Many IT organizations are so busy fixing today's issues and keeping up with change that they have no time to build the capabilities needed for tomorrow—a critical shortcoming when the goal is adding value to the business. Further, they are often stuck in operational mode and thus poorly positioned for the innovation required in today's economy. To move beyond troubleshooting and actively plan for the future, IT has to close the gap between the need and ability to deliver.
Within its short lifespan, the Internet has already delivered huge economic and social benefits. For growth to continue, however, there must be a realignment of how investments are made and value is captured. Policy makers must be supportive of commercial initiatives that contribute to investment, innovation and more efficient use of the Internet for everyone.
The Internet has left its mark on society--from online shopping and banking to YouTube videos and social networking. Beyond these societal trends, how does the economy of the Internet work? How is the industry structured, and which companies are the players? How do companies make money, and what are the prospects for growth?
Amid a gradual economic recovery, there is little margin for error in today's environment for mergers and acquisitions. Analysts and industry experts want results—and they want them quickly. IT will play a vital role in M&A by delivering quick, reliable value.
In recent years, many of the most significant corporate success stories have been because of IT innovations. Despite the gloomy economic mood, success stories like Amazon's Kindle demonstrate that the value of IT innovation has not diminished. In fact, leading executives understand that IT innovation is a major factor for their companies' bottom lines and future growth.
Many IT organizations are buckling under the pressure of corporate expectations--not because of a lack of know-how, but because of excessive complexity that has developed over time. By building an IT application blueprint, you can remain flexible enough to meet the changing needs of the business.
Based on our research and experience working with a wide variety of clients — from multinational conglomerates and old-line businesses to rapidly growing start-up companies — we have observed seven habits for gaining maximum value from IT governance. The most successful companies are those that have matured beyond simply linking IT strategy and the business, and instead have established a fully integrated operating environment.
IT ist ein wesentlicher Energiekonsument und erzeugt weltweit CO2-Emissionen von etwa 600 Millionen Tonnen pro Jahr. Das entspricht dem jährlichen CO2-Ausstoß von knapp 320 Millionen Kleinwagen. Zur Kompensation wären 60 Milliarden Bäume erforderlich. Ohne entsprechende Gegenmaßnahmen wird der durch die Unternehmens-IT verursachte CO2-Ausstoß pro Jahr in Deutschland bis 2020 um 60 Prozent auf 31 Millionen Tonnen ansteigen. Dabei ist vor allem auch die IT-Industrie mit innovativen Konzepten und Lösungen zur Senkung des Energieverbrauchs gefordert. Darüber hinaus können Unternehmen durch IT-gestützte Innovationen und die aktive Mitgestaltung der CO2-Strategie durch die IT ihre gesamte Energiebilanz nachhaltig verbessern. Dies gilt ganz besonders für die Produktion und Logistik energieintensiver Branchen wie beispielsweise Energie, Stahl und Chemie.
Much has been written about the environmental impact of manufacturing and transportation, but less attention has been paid to a major culprit of environmental deterioration— IT. Computing equipment, pervasive at most companies, is a major source of damage to the environment, both in terms of carbon emissions and toxic waste. Corporate IT is responsible for as much as 1 million tons of electronic equipment that become obsolete each year, making it a major contributor to the growing "toxic tide." A recent A.T. Kearney study also finds that, worldwide, IT produces 600 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. This is equivalent to the annual CO2 output from almost 320 million small cars. Companies that want to meet their sustainability goals and become green must turn to their IT group—to address their own environmental impact and support the strategic initiatives necessary in the race to be green.
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