“Business-Focused IT” is changing the way many organisations assess and manage IT.  The concepts encapsulated within the approach help us not just to achieve more successful business outcomes today but they will help us to manage services better into the future where we will possibly not own all of the IT processes or IT resources.

As the author I am often asked how the journey started.  I had joined a manufacturing company as a general management trainee eventually opting to build a career in IT.  During my early years in IT management my senior manager was something of a recluse and annoyed the business by demanding detailed specifications whenever they requested changes. I became the conduit for the business, the acceptable face of IT management, and it remained thus throughout my time with that company.  As my career progressed I found value in developing these business-focused skills as well as my IT-focused ones and as I became more senior these became a greater asset.  From the outset ITDYNAMICS™ was based on revitalising software and services organisations.  It was after all what I had been doing for the previous twenty years in a variety of contexts from IT management for internal services organisations to Commercial Director or Sales and Marketing Director for commercial solutions and services providers. Whilst being a practitioner of management consultancy, change management and IT management I was formulating an approach which I and eventually others could follow. 

The early attempts consisted of a number of white papers that could be accessed via the web site.  In 2005 I brought these together into a single self published volume.  This first book (now no longer available) talked about the growing perception gap between business and IT, the need for a business focus, the importance of business outcomes not just process (i.e. as Theodore Levitt said, “holes not drill bits”) and an assessment process based on a service engine framework – a much broader set of skills than anything that had been published before by SFIA or any other organisation.  The book became something of a cult read and in the meantime I was continuing to gather more material as my work offered more challenges not just in management consultancy and interim CIO roles but leading business change as interim CEO and COO. So when the BCS asked me if I would consider writing a second edition I knew that I had to accept.  My research shows that the closeness of IT to the business is the most significant factor contributing to the successful business outcome of an IT change programme or project. This can now be defined measured and improved. With a global spend on IT in the region of $3 trillion (a recent Gartner forecast) and failure rates of 70% (Standish 2009 Chaos Report and other reports since 1970) the opportunity could be as big as $2.2 trillion.  

Since publishing I have spoken in Russia, the Middle East, and in the UK at public and private events to audiences invited by the BCS and vendors.  The book is now also available worldwide and it attracts audiences interested not just in change management, IT excellence and service improvement but in the newer areas associated with process automation, Cloud Computing and futures.  CIO magazine recommends that it should be on every CIO’s ‘to read’ pile. 

In 2010 I received an unconditional offer to pursue a research degree (leading to a PhD) to explore the IT service model. Where it is possible to combine both the research interest and the interests of my clients I hope that I will be able to add even more value.  Organisations wishing to either benefit from our existing work on "Business-Focused IT" or wishing to participate in the evolving research programme should contact me.

To speak to someone from ITDYNAMICS™ Ltd email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0845 095 7818.

David Miller