The finger points at IT when projects fail

CALGARY – Whether it’s a huge software integration project or ensuring financial systems are compliant, enterprise IT is at risk because business units are abdicating their responsibility, a conference for CIOs was told in April.

A lot of the compliance efforts have derailed because of huge documentation requirements, improper testing and basically because everybody is trying to do everything, said Wally Curry, vice-president of information systems and support services for Enersource (formerly Hydro Mississauga), speaking at the Canadian CIO and IT Executive Summit here.

Problems can be eliminated when there is upfront communications between IT and financial end-users, Curry said. Some of the questions that need to be asked upfront are: How does IT fit into the governance structure? Who controls “the keys” to the systems? Who is the gatekeeper?

What happens is that business units may not understand the implications of a software upgrade or a source code modification, Curry added, and business people step away when they don’t understand.

“So we (IT) end up not delivering and owning the business processes by default,” said Curry.

Similarly, a lot of software integration projects either never get off the ground or are doomed to fail because of a lack of understanding at the executive level about the importance of integration.

“It’s not IT’s fault, it’s business,” said Michael Kuhbock, chairman of the Calgary-based Integration Consortium. “Trillions of dollars” are being wasted because systems don’t talk to each other, said Kuhbock.

“It’s project after project after project when what clearly is needed is an overall plan.” In 2002, enterprise application integration was the buzzword, but the overall integration effort failed because nobody looked beyond the application into what the organization actually required, he said.

Now the same thing could happen with service-oriented architecture (SOA) because executives do not want to understand it or are unclear around accountability issues, said Kuhbock.

Although not a new concern, the lack of business accountability for IT systems is becoming greater as CIOs assume greater responsibility for business strategy.

Clearly, the need is for CIOs who understand processes first and implement technology later, said Peter Gapp, CIO for Siemens Canada.

To boldly go where no CIO has gone
Siemens Canada underwent a huge standardization and harmonization of business processes effort itself, beginning with its ERP system and out into the business units.

The CIO has to step boldly forward, said Gapp. “It’s not a democracy, it’s a company, and sometimes, the CIO has to say, ‘This is the way it has to be.’”

Tim Barnes, IT integration specialist with gas and energy producer Devon Canada Corp., in Calgary, said progress is being made.

“We’re taking off our glasses, (turning) away from the application and turning to business processes.”

Earlier integration efforts failed due to the lack of an overall plan. “We had multiple teams competing to do integration projects, but no one was looking at the big picture.”

Devon Canada is now in the midst of a multi-year process to integrate its 600 applications into a complete “central service unit” by 2008.

It’s a way of improving not only communications between its data and applications, but also its people and its processes, he said.

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Featured Story

How the CTO can Maintain Cloud Momentum Across the Enterprise

Embracing cloud is easy for some individuals. But embedding widespread cloud adoption at the enterprise level is...

Related Tech News

Get ITBusiness Delivered

Our experienced team of journalists brings you engaging content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives delivered directly to your inbox.

Featured Tech Jobs