SlideShare a Scribd company logo

Reducing IT Complexity to Accelerate Digital Business

•
•
Cognizant
Cognizant

Complexity is a fact of life for today's IT infrastructures, which must now step up to the heavy demands of digital business. Using a structured, three-phase approach, CIOs can strengthen and streamline their organization's capabilities and deliver on the promise of doing business in the digital age.

Related slideshows

We Need To Talk About IT Architecture
We Need To Talk About IT ArchitectureWe Need To Talk About IT Architecture
We Need To Talk About IT Architecture
 
Bending the IT Op-Ex Cost Curve Through IT Simplification
Bending the IT Op-Ex Cost Curve Through IT SimplificationBending the IT Op-Ex Cost Curve Through IT Simplification
Bending the IT Op-Ex Cost Curve Through IT Simplification
 
ITSM in an uncertain economy
ITSM in an uncertain economyITSM in an uncertain economy
ITSM in an uncertain economy
 
1 of 7
Download to read offline
Reducing IT Complexity to Accelerate Digital Business Equipped with a structured, well-governed strategy, CIOs can simplify and refine their company’s IT landscape, control costs and reap more benefits from doing business in the digital age. Executive Summary Complexity is part and parcel of today’s IT land- scapes — creating significant impediments to business growth and flexibility. As companies become more IT-intensive, there is a pressing need to overcome technology-related challenges and unlock the potential of digital business. In our view, a sound, digitally-focused IT organiza- tion is one that: • Possesses a well-managed infrastructure and applications. • Is directed by a detailed blueprint that informs continuous improvement. • Utilizes a lean organizational structure and nimble processes that allow the business to be proactive and responsive — ready to turn on a dime as business needs evolve and change. • Articulates value with best-in-class services and measurable outcomes. These capabilities begin with an integrat- ed approach that addresses the complexity surrounding digital business transformation, sup- ported by methods and frameworks that help identify, simplify and prioritize the steps involved in such an initiative. While IT simplification efforts can deliver sig- nificant benefits in terms of cost, efficiency and quality, a truly successful one will also render the IT organization fit and primed to thrive in today’s digital world. This white paper articulates a three-stage approach that IT organizations can take to strengthen and streamline their capabilities and deliver on the promise of digital business. Typical CIO Challenges IT complexity can result from any or all of the following: • Unstructured, widely scattered applications comprising legacy, obsolete and current tech- nologies, all modified concurrently, and all con- tributing to bourgeoning maintenance costs. At many companies, uncontrolled buying patterns are also to blame for redundancy across the applications portfolio. • Decentralized, expensive technology archi- tectures characterized by mismatched • Cognizant 20-20 Insights cognizant 20-20 insights | september 2015
business processes, rigid management layers and an overly complex operating model consume time and increase overhead. • Enterprise architecture rules and governance standards that are ignored or overlooked at nearly every turn. Currently, most IT organizations do not have a well-regulated, homogenous blueprint for accommodating growth. • Legacy and duplicate operating environ- ments, networks and data centers that are unwieldy, inflexible and difficult to manage — stalling and undermining orga- nizational change and agility, and sapping companies’ ability to deepen their insight and make analytical decisions. • Operational challenges exacerbated by mergers and acquisitions, poor IT governance and business imperatives that override archi- tectural considerations. Reducing Complexity IDC reinforces the above — defining IT complex- ity as “the state of an IT infrastructure that leads to wasted effort, time, or expense.”1 In its view, complexities can be caused by various factors, including “a heterogeneous environment, use of previous-generation or legacy technologies, server or application ‘sprawl,’ insufficient man- agement tools and automation, non-centralized IT ‘pockets’ scattered around different portions of the broader organization, or other symptoms that would lead to wasted time and effort.”2 Complexity breeds complex- ity, which in today’s IT-intense world is spiraling into a set of “quick fixes” applied super- ficially without addressing deeper causes. Incremental remedies and making appli- cation and infrastructure changes without considering the architectural “glue” can sabotage IT simplification and be prohibitively expensive and hard to manage. As new digital technologies embodied by the SMAC Stack™ (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) become central to most business strategies, addressing and resolving the challenges associated with IT complexity has become a critical imperative — requiring business- es to fundamentally rewire and simplify their IT estate. (Figure 1 illustrates the requirements for doing so.) These components are key to creating a nimble and “digitally fit” IT organization. At the same time, attaining this level of operational simplifica- tion requires an integrated and cohesive strategy. IT complexity is a multi-dimensional problem that cannot be addressed with isolated initiatives. For cognizant 20-20 insights 2 Incremental fixes and the deployment of application and infrastructure changes without due consideration to the architectural “glue” can be prohibitively expensive and hard to manage. An Integrated Approach to Reducing IT Complexity Figure 1 Industrialized Operating Models • Repeatable functions • Predictable results • Business-aligned shared services models Outcome-Oriented Service • Predictable performance • Delivery designed to complement business requirements • Service-oriented design Simplified Processes • More robust • Structured yet flexible • IT-accelerated • More efficient Rationalized Application Portfolio • Less application bloat — do more with less • Strong governance • Simplified and streamlined • Optimized for digital business IT Architecture & Tools Rationalization • Reusable standards • Solicits widespread adoption • Domain & technology agnostic • Future-proof technologies Optimized Infrastructure • Flexible and nimble • Does more with less • Predictable and reliable • High-performing
cognizant 20-20 insights 3 instance: • Decisions around architectures and tools must be made hand-in-hand with infrastructure and application choices. • Investments in legacy modernization should be considered alongside new digital capabilities and partnering decisions. • Processes, operating models and transparent IT governance work best when they interlock — enabling a company to create a work environ- ment that is easier to manage, more responsive, and more innovative. By adhering to these principles, companies can create and articulate a set of services and busi- ness-oriented outcomes centered on delivering true business value across the organization. According to recent Gartner research, “Shifting to lean IT techniques is the only way for IT departments to keep up with the rapid change in business needs. The combination of the digital revolution and the nexus of forces (social media, mobility, cloud computing and information pat- terns) will make it impossible to survive without some lean IT capability.”3 To help IT organizations accomplish this goal, we have developed Cognizant SimpliFIT™, a framework that aims to address enterprise IT complexities by applying elements of the approach illustrated in Figure 1. SimpliFIT encom- passes three phases: • Health check. • Detailed assessment. • Transformation. By following these steps (see Figure 2 above), IT organizations can reduce complexity, become more nimble, and build a solid foundation for con- ducting and sustaining digital business. Step 1: Health Check Although IT complexity remains an abstract term, most CIOs see eye-to-eye when it comes to sim- plifying the IT infrastructure. The first step is to build a concrete business case for doing so. This enables companies to: • Understand areas of the business that reveal the underlying causes of complexity. • Gain an initial view of where the complexities exist. • Carve out priorities and specific focus areas for deeper assessments. • Generate a baseline for current IT performance. • Develop an initial model for gauging return on investment (ROI) and cost/benefit. • Create a detailed assessment plan. The health check involves initial, time-boxed data- gathering and diagnostics to produce a high-level health report and business case that enable com- panies to prepare a tailored assessment plan. The health check is also key to validating (or invali- # 2 HEALTH CHECK DETAILED ASSESSMENT TRANSFORMATION Business Case for SimpliFIT Identify Key Levers & Transformation Approach Accelerate Transformation Through Assets DELIVERABLES • IT health report • Business case for SimpliFIT • Detailed current state report • Target state report • Recommendations & roadmap • Transformation plan • Implementation roadmap • Benefits realization report Cognizant SimpliFIT: A Framework for IT Simplification Figure 2
dating) assumptions regarding complexities and gaining buy-in across the IT organization. Step 2: Detailed Assessment A detailed assessment provides deep insight into the six focus areas, or a subset of those, as determined by the health check. Figure 3 below highlights the key areas that our framework addresses. The assessment offers CIOs and their organization a set of recommendations, tools and timelines for addressing and resolving the challenges around IT complexity. This enables them to: • Gain a clearer view of existing IT complexities across all six focus areas. • Apply specific recommendations for reducing complexity through decommissioning, rational- ization and overall simplification of the IT infra- structure. • Understand the potential benefits (lower costs, higher efficiencies, increased responsiveness and improved quality). • Utilize a transformation roadmap and imple- mentation plan. • Employ transformation levers to address rec- ommendations. • Benefit from tangible, realistic costs and timelines for the transformation program. Armed with this information, CIOs and other key IT leaders can make more informed decisions regarding the operational and technological restructuring that powers a successful IT trans- formation program. Step 3: Transformation An IT simplification program of this scale address- es multiple dimensions. In essence, it is an organizational transformation, which requires cognizant 20-20 insights 4 Industrialized Operating Models • Operating model maturity assessment for supporting leaner operations and better decision making. Outcome-Oriented Service • Assessments for leaner supply chain, increased business alignment and clear articulation of IT value. Simplified Processes • End-to-end process assessment for achieving synchronized, consistent yet flexible, lean IT environment. Rationalized Application Portfolio • Optimized application portfolio based on business needs and long-term business and IT strategies. Technology Arch & Tools Rationalization • Rationalize tools and platforms. • KPI-aligned technology architecture set up for high performance. Optimized Infrastructure • Optimize infrastructure estate based on business needs, enabled by structured change management. • Alignment with business organization. • Reduced demand management yielding 5% to 10% in savings. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • High-velocity execution, lower costs and transparent IT. • Workforce tuned to meet varying demands. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • Streamlined, agile processes. • Potential capacity releases up to 20% from process redesign. • Shorter time to market — improved by 10%. • Decommission of applications up to 30%. • Potential savings of 10% to 15% from infrastructure. • IT maintenance savings of 5% to 10%. • Business-aligned technology, platforms and tools. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • Optimized infrastructure and space reclaim up to 20%. • Performance improvement through tuning and sizing. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. SimpliFIT Focus Areas Figure 3
proper sequencing — from design and build, to implementation, rollout and adoption. All stages must be managed by an overarching gover- nance and benefit-realization framework that incorporates: • Design: Identifying the actions that must be taken to simplify the IT landscape. Typically, these consist of four broad areas: >> Rationalizing and reengineering: »» Application rationalization and infra- structure decommissioning. >> Standardization: »» Technology blueprinting, process harmo- nization, outcome modeling and industri- alization levers. >> Automation and tooling: »» Areas where standard operating proce- dures can be automated or easily imple- mented via a COTs product, which can simplify operations. >> Optimization: »» The application of lean methodologies, application tuning, demand management and other optimization techniques that help reduce complexity and bloat. • Develop capability/implementation/rollout/ adoption: This is where the rubber meets the road, and where value is generated. Once a set of steps/levers have been identified, we recommend an agile model for implementation, rollout and adoption that takes into account dependencies, priorities, the scale of benefits and the organization’s appetite for change. Pilots are recommended to prove concepts, provide confidence to stakeholders, incorpo- rate lessons learned and scale quickly. Each step of the implementation should utilize a Portfolio Simplification and Application Rightsizing for a Major Life Insurance Company A U.S.-based life insurance company, with over $6.5 billion in global revenues and serv- ing 100 million customers in 50 countries, faced a number of obstacles when attempting to rationalize and simplify its applications portfolio. Working with us, the insurer opti- mized its key business applications to reduce costs and speed time to value. 5cognizant 20-20 insights Challenges: • Complex legacy systems that exacted a high price in terms of maintenance and cost of ownership. • Application data models that had grown over time due to architecture complexities and technology. • Application interfaces that conflicted with numerous other applications. Solution: We employed our SimpliFIT framework to: • Determine the technological and business value of an application and its significance in the portfolio. • Confirm applications’ functional and operation- al maturity. • Rationalize applications and simplify the overall application portfolio. • Identify additional opportunities for optimiza- tion and transformation. Benefits: • A simplified and optimized portfolio that vastly improved business value and generated a 20% increase in cost savings. • Application stability increased by 20%. • Time to market improved by 17% for any appli- cation change/enhancement. • A much improved and mature application set with a roadmap for enhancing the systems’ lifespan and continually increasing business value. Quick Take
cognizant 20-20 insights 6 and a clear-cut communication strategy to drive faster adoption. >> Training in all areas that are impacted (either due to organizational redesign, the introduc- tion of new technology, or rationalization of redundant/legacy systems). >> Tracking of investments and benefits to help control costs, heighten productivity and as- sure quality. Looking Forward For organizations looking to reduce IT complexity and simplify their infrastructure, we recommend the following: • Take stock and understand the size of the prize. A rapid but thorough health check is the best way to understand and obtain a clear picture of where complexities lie. >> Gather information about the application/ infrastructure portfolio and potential scope of rationalization. >> Collect existing data and metrics that pro- vide insight regarding the impact of exist- ing complexities (e.g., IT debt; infrastructure performance; user experiences; SLAs; appli- cation demographics; partner performance; process maturity). • Correlate complexity challenges with growth impediments to identify top priorities and target focus areas that require immediate attention. • Identify key stakeholders to drive and support the simplification program. • Commission a detailed assessment that includes a current state report, target outline, simplification roadmap and transformation charter. IT complexity is an ongoing issue for CIOs. Yet doing business in the digital world is all about simplicity, speed and responsiveness. By system- atically addressing the challenges associated with this issue, CIOs can help their organization fulfill the promise of digital business. Footnotes 1 Randy Perry, “Study Results: IDC Index Calculates Cost of Complex IT,” ForbesBrandVoice, August 6, 2014. http://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2014/08/06/study-results-idc-index-calculates-cost-of-complex-it/. 2 Ibid. 3 Nathan Wilson, “Maverick Research: Fire Two-Thirds of Your IT Organization,” Gartner Inc., September 25, 2014. https://www.gartner.com/doc/2856019/maverick-research-twothirds-it-organization. Each step of the implementation should utilize a well-defined approach, including estimates, status reporting and metrics that dovetail with the larger transformation program. well-defined approach, including estimates, status reporting and metrics that dovetail with the larger transformation program. • Transformation governance: Central to a successful IT simplification program is widespread adoption, sensitive change management and benefit realization — each of which depends on well-managed, effective governance. The CIO’s office should ensure: >> A change strategy and lead- ership that afford a clear vi- sion and sponsorship of the simplification program. >> Proper stakeholder man- agement involving the iden- tification of change agents
About Cognizant Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process out- sourcing services, dedicated to helping the world’s leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 100 development and delivery centers worldwide and approximately 218,000 employees as of June 30, 2015, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant. World Headquarters 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd. Teaneck, NJ 07666 USA Phone: +1 201 801 0233 Fax: +1 201 801 0243 Toll Free: +1 888 937 3277 Email: inquiry@cognizant.com European Headquarters 1 Kingdom Street Paddington Central London W2 6BD Phone: +44 (0) 20 7297 7600 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7121 0102 Email: infouk@cognizant.com India Operations Headquarters #5/535, Old Mahabalipuram Road Okkiyam Pettai, Thoraipakkam Chennai, 600 096 India Phone: +91 (0) 44 4209 6000 Fax: +91 (0) 44 4209 6060 Email: inquiryindia@cognizant.com ­­© Copyright 2015, Cognizant. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission from Cognizant. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. TL Codex 1436 About the Author Karthik Padmanabhan is Cognizant’s Offshore Leader for process and quality consulting (PQC) and application value management (AVM) consulting practices. He is a process improvement consulting expert with 18-plus years of experience leading large-scale process transformation initiatives. Karthik has worked with several global clients on a variety of process models, life cycles, platforms and industry domains, and has led large process initiatives and directed implementation of high-maturity processes that were instrumental in improving product quality, reducing cycle time, mitigating risks and increasing productivity. He has proven experience in consulting to facilitate the adoption of best-practices models such as CMMI, eSCM and ITIL in several IT organizations. He has an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Annamalai University, and an M.S. in quality management from BITS Pilani. He can be reached at Karthik.Padmanabhan@cognizant.com.

More Related Content

Reducing IT Complexity to Accelerate Digital Business

  • 1. Reducing IT Complexity to Accelerate Digital Business Equipped with a structured, well-governed strategy, CIOs can simplify and refine their company’s IT landscape, control costs and reap more benefits from doing business in the digital age. Executive Summary Complexity is part and parcel of today’s IT land- scapes — creating significant impediments to business growth and flexibility. As companies become more IT-intensive, there is a pressing need to overcome technology-related challenges and unlock the potential of digital business. In our view, a sound, digitally-focused IT organiza- tion is one that: • Possesses a well-managed infrastructure and applications. • Is directed by a detailed blueprint that informs continuous improvement. • Utilizes a lean organizational structure and nimble processes that allow the business to be proactive and responsive — ready to turn on a dime as business needs evolve and change. • Articulates value with best-in-class services and measurable outcomes. These capabilities begin with an integrat- ed approach that addresses the complexity surrounding digital business transformation, sup- ported by methods and frameworks that help identify, simplify and prioritize the steps involved in such an initiative. While IT simplification efforts can deliver sig- nificant benefits in terms of cost, efficiency and quality, a truly successful one will also render the IT organization fit and primed to thrive in today’s digital world. This white paper articulates a three-stage approach that IT organizations can take to strengthen and streamline their capabilities and deliver on the promise of digital business. Typical CIO Challenges IT complexity can result from any or all of the following: • Unstructured, widely scattered applications comprising legacy, obsolete and current tech- nologies, all modified concurrently, and all con- tributing to bourgeoning maintenance costs. At many companies, uncontrolled buying patterns are also to blame for redundancy across the applications portfolio. • Decentralized, expensive technology archi- tectures characterized by mismatched • Cognizant 20-20 Insights cognizant 20-20 insights | september 2015
  • 2. business processes, rigid management layers and an overly complex operating model consume time and increase overhead. • Enterprise architecture rules and governance standards that are ignored or overlooked at nearly every turn. Currently, most IT organizations do not have a well-regulated, homogenous blueprint for accommodating growth. • Legacy and duplicate operating environ- ments, networks and data centers that are unwieldy, inflexible and difficult to manage — stalling and undermining orga- nizational change and agility, and sapping companies’ ability to deepen their insight and make analytical decisions. • Operational challenges exacerbated by mergers and acquisitions, poor IT governance and business imperatives that override archi- tectural considerations. Reducing Complexity IDC reinforces the above — defining IT complex- ity as “the state of an IT infrastructure that leads to wasted effort, time, or expense.”1 In its view, complexities can be caused by various factors, including “a heterogeneous environment, use of previous-generation or legacy technologies, server or application ‘sprawl,’ insufficient man- agement tools and automation, non-centralized IT ‘pockets’ scattered around different portions of the broader organization, or other symptoms that would lead to wasted time and effort.”2 Complexity breeds complex- ity, which in today’s IT-intense world is spiraling into a set of “quick fixes” applied super- ficially without addressing deeper causes. Incremental remedies and making appli- cation and infrastructure changes without considering the architectural “glue” can sabotage IT simplification and be prohibitively expensive and hard to manage. As new digital technologies embodied by the SMAC Stack™ (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) become central to most business strategies, addressing and resolving the challenges associated with IT complexity has become a critical imperative — requiring business- es to fundamentally rewire and simplify their IT estate. (Figure 1 illustrates the requirements for doing so.) These components are key to creating a nimble and “digitally fit” IT organization. At the same time, attaining this level of operational simplifica- tion requires an integrated and cohesive strategy. IT complexity is a multi-dimensional problem that cannot be addressed with isolated initiatives. For cognizant 20-20 insights 2 Incremental fixes and the deployment of application and infrastructure changes without due consideration to the architectural “glue” can be prohibitively expensive and hard to manage. An Integrated Approach to Reducing IT Complexity Figure 1 Industrialized Operating Models • Repeatable functions • Predictable results • Business-aligned shared services models Outcome-Oriented Service • Predictable performance • Delivery designed to complement business requirements • Service-oriented design Simplified Processes • More robust • Structured yet flexible • IT-accelerated • More efficient Rationalized Application Portfolio • Less application bloat — do more with less • Strong governance • Simplified and streamlined • Optimized for digital business IT Architecture & Tools Rationalization • Reusable standards • Solicits widespread adoption • Domain & technology agnostic • Future-proof technologies Optimized Infrastructure • Flexible and nimble • Does more with less • Predictable and reliable • High-performing
  • 3. cognizant 20-20 insights 3 instance: • Decisions around architectures and tools must be made hand-in-hand with infrastructure and application choices. • Investments in legacy modernization should be considered alongside new digital capabilities and partnering decisions. • Processes, operating models and transparent IT governance work best when they interlock — enabling a company to create a work environ- ment that is easier to manage, more responsive, and more innovative. By adhering to these principles, companies can create and articulate a set of services and busi- ness-oriented outcomes centered on delivering true business value across the organization. According to recent Gartner research, “Shifting to lean IT techniques is the only way for IT departments to keep up with the rapid change in business needs. The combination of the digital revolution and the nexus of forces (social media, mobility, cloud computing and information pat- terns) will make it impossible to survive without some lean IT capability.”3 To help IT organizations accomplish this goal, we have developed Cognizant SimpliFIT™, a framework that aims to address enterprise IT complexities by applying elements of the approach illustrated in Figure 1. SimpliFIT encom- passes three phases: • Health check. • Detailed assessment. • Transformation. By following these steps (see Figure 2 above), IT organizations can reduce complexity, become more nimble, and build a solid foundation for con- ducting and sustaining digital business. Step 1: Health Check Although IT complexity remains an abstract term, most CIOs see eye-to-eye when it comes to sim- plifying the IT infrastructure. The first step is to build a concrete business case for doing so. This enables companies to: • Understand areas of the business that reveal the underlying causes of complexity. • Gain an initial view of where the complexities exist. • Carve out priorities and specific focus areas for deeper assessments. • Generate a baseline for current IT performance. • Develop an initial model for gauging return on investment (ROI) and cost/benefit. • Create a detailed assessment plan. The health check involves initial, time-boxed data- gathering and diagnostics to produce a high-level health report and business case that enable com- panies to prepare a tailored assessment plan. The health check is also key to validating (or invali- # 2 HEALTH CHECK DETAILED ASSESSMENT TRANSFORMATION Business Case for SimpliFIT Identify Key Levers & Transformation Approach Accelerate Transformation Through Assets DELIVERABLES • IT health report • Business case for SimpliFIT • Detailed current state report • Target state report • Recommendations & roadmap • Transformation plan • Implementation roadmap • Benefits realization report Cognizant SimpliFIT: A Framework for IT Simplification Figure 2
  • 4. dating) assumptions regarding complexities and gaining buy-in across the IT organization. Step 2: Detailed Assessment A detailed assessment provides deep insight into the six focus areas, or a subset of those, as determined by the health check. Figure 3 below highlights the key areas that our framework addresses. The assessment offers CIOs and their organization a set of recommendations, tools and timelines for addressing and resolving the challenges around IT complexity. This enables them to: • Gain a clearer view of existing IT complexities across all six focus areas. • Apply specific recommendations for reducing complexity through decommissioning, rational- ization and overall simplification of the IT infra- structure. • Understand the potential benefits (lower costs, higher efficiencies, increased responsiveness and improved quality). • Utilize a transformation roadmap and imple- mentation plan. • Employ transformation levers to address rec- ommendations. • Benefit from tangible, realistic costs and timelines for the transformation program. Armed with this information, CIOs and other key IT leaders can make more informed decisions regarding the operational and technological restructuring that powers a successful IT trans- formation program. Step 3: Transformation An IT simplification program of this scale address- es multiple dimensions. In essence, it is an organizational transformation, which requires cognizant 20-20 insights 4 Industrialized Operating Models • Operating model maturity assessment for supporting leaner operations and better decision making. Outcome-Oriented Service • Assessments for leaner supply chain, increased business alignment and clear articulation of IT value. Simplified Processes • End-to-end process assessment for achieving synchronized, consistent yet flexible, lean IT environment. Rationalized Application Portfolio • Optimized application portfolio based on business needs and long-term business and IT strategies. Technology Arch & Tools Rationalization • Rationalize tools and platforms. • KPI-aligned technology architecture set up for high performance. Optimized Infrastructure • Optimize infrastructure estate based on business needs, enabled by structured change management. • Alignment with business organization. • Reduced demand management yielding 5% to 10% in savings. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • High-velocity execution, lower costs and transparent IT. • Workforce tuned to meet varying demands. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • Streamlined, agile processes. • Potential capacity releases up to 20% from process redesign. • Shorter time to market — improved by 10%. • Decommission of applications up to 30%. • Potential savings of 10% to 15% from infrastructure. • IT maintenance savings of 5% to 10%. • Business-aligned technology, platforms and tools. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. • Optimized infrastructure and space reclaim up to 20%. • Performance improvement through tuning and sizing. • IT opex savings of 10% to 15%. SimpliFIT Focus Areas Figure 3
  • 5. proper sequencing — from design and build, to implementation, rollout and adoption. All stages must be managed by an overarching gover- nance and benefit-realization framework that incorporates: • Design: Identifying the actions that must be taken to simplify the IT landscape. Typically, these consist of four broad areas: >> Rationalizing and reengineering: »» Application rationalization and infra- structure decommissioning. >> Standardization: »» Technology blueprinting, process harmo- nization, outcome modeling and industri- alization levers. >> Automation and tooling: »» Areas where standard operating proce- dures can be automated or easily imple- mented via a COTs product, which can simplify operations. >> Optimization: »» The application of lean methodologies, application tuning, demand management and other optimization techniques that help reduce complexity and bloat. • Develop capability/implementation/rollout/ adoption: This is where the rubber meets the road, and where value is generated. Once a set of steps/levers have been identified, we recommend an agile model for implementation, rollout and adoption that takes into account dependencies, priorities, the scale of benefits and the organization’s appetite for change. Pilots are recommended to prove concepts, provide confidence to stakeholders, incorpo- rate lessons learned and scale quickly. Each step of the implementation should utilize a Portfolio Simplification and Application Rightsizing for a Major Life Insurance Company A U.S.-based life insurance company, with over $6.5 billion in global revenues and serv- ing 100 million customers in 50 countries, faced a number of obstacles when attempting to rationalize and simplify its applications portfolio. Working with us, the insurer opti- mized its key business applications to reduce costs and speed time to value. 5cognizant 20-20 insights Challenges: • Complex legacy systems that exacted a high price in terms of maintenance and cost of ownership. • Application data models that had grown over time due to architecture complexities and technology. • Application interfaces that conflicted with numerous other applications. Solution: We employed our SimpliFIT framework to: • Determine the technological and business value of an application and its significance in the portfolio. • Confirm applications’ functional and operation- al maturity. • Rationalize applications and simplify the overall application portfolio. • Identify additional opportunities for optimiza- tion and transformation. Benefits: • A simplified and optimized portfolio that vastly improved business value and generated a 20% increase in cost savings. • Application stability increased by 20%. • Time to market improved by 17% for any appli- cation change/enhancement. • A much improved and mature application set with a roadmap for enhancing the systems’ lifespan and continually increasing business value. Quick Take
  • 6. cognizant 20-20 insights 6 and a clear-cut communication strategy to drive faster adoption. >> Training in all areas that are impacted (either due to organizational redesign, the introduc- tion of new technology, or rationalization of redundant/legacy systems). >> Tracking of investments and benefits to help control costs, heighten productivity and as- sure quality. Looking Forward For organizations looking to reduce IT complexity and simplify their infrastructure, we recommend the following: • Take stock and understand the size of the prize. A rapid but thorough health check is the best way to understand and obtain a clear picture of where complexities lie. >> Gather information about the application/ infrastructure portfolio and potential scope of rationalization. >> Collect existing data and metrics that pro- vide insight regarding the impact of exist- ing complexities (e.g., IT debt; infrastructure performance; user experiences; SLAs; appli- cation demographics; partner performance; process maturity). • Correlate complexity challenges with growth impediments to identify top priorities and target focus areas that require immediate attention. • Identify key stakeholders to drive and support the simplification program. • Commission a detailed assessment that includes a current state report, target outline, simplification roadmap and transformation charter. IT complexity is an ongoing issue for CIOs. Yet doing business in the digital world is all about simplicity, speed and responsiveness. By system- atically addressing the challenges associated with this issue, CIOs can help their organization fulfill the promise of digital business. Footnotes 1 Randy Perry, “Study Results: IDC Index Calculates Cost of Complex IT,” ForbesBrandVoice, August 6, 2014. http://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2014/08/06/study-results-idc-index-calculates-cost-of-complex-it/. 2 Ibid. 3 Nathan Wilson, “Maverick Research: Fire Two-Thirds of Your IT Organization,” Gartner Inc., September 25, 2014. https://www.gartner.com/doc/2856019/maverick-research-twothirds-it-organization. Each step of the implementation should utilize a well-defined approach, including estimates, status reporting and metrics that dovetail with the larger transformation program. well-defined approach, including estimates, status reporting and metrics that dovetail with the larger transformation program. • Transformation governance: Central to a successful IT simplification program is widespread adoption, sensitive change management and benefit realization — each of which depends on well-managed, effective governance. The CIO’s office should ensure: >> A change strategy and lead- ership that afford a clear vi- sion and sponsorship of the simplification program. >> Proper stakeholder man- agement involving the iden- tification of change agents
  • 7. About Cognizant Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process out- sourcing services, dedicated to helping the world’s leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant combines a passion for client satisfaction, technology innovation, deep industry and business process expertise, and a global, collaborative workforce that embodies the future of work. With over 100 development and delivery centers worldwide and approximately 218,000 employees as of June 30, 2015, Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 2000, and the Fortune 500 and is ranked among the top performing and fastest growing companies in the world. Visit us online at www.cognizant.com or follow us on Twitter: Cognizant. World Headquarters 500 Frank W. Burr Blvd. Teaneck, NJ 07666 USA Phone: +1 201 801 0233 Fax: +1 201 801 0243 Toll Free: +1 888 937 3277 Email: inquiry@cognizant.com European Headquarters 1 Kingdom Street Paddington Central London W2 6BD Phone: +44 (0) 20 7297 7600 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7121 0102 Email: infouk@cognizant.com India Operations Headquarters #5/535, Old Mahabalipuram Road Okkiyam Pettai, Thoraipakkam Chennai, 600 096 India Phone: +91 (0) 44 4209 6000 Fax: +91 (0) 44 4209 6060 Email: inquiryindia@cognizant.com ­­© Copyright 2015, Cognizant. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission from Cognizant. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. TL Codex 1436 About the Author Karthik Padmanabhan is Cognizant’s Offshore Leader for process and quality consulting (PQC) and application value management (AVM) consulting practices. He is a process improvement consulting expert with 18-plus years of experience leading large-scale process transformation initiatives. Karthik has worked with several global clients on a variety of process models, life cycles, platforms and industry domains, and has led large process initiatives and directed implementation of high-maturity processes that were instrumental in improving product quality, reducing cycle time, mitigating risks and increasing productivity. He has proven experience in consulting to facilitate the adoption of best-practices models such as CMMI, eSCM and ITIL in several IT organizations. He has an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Annamalai University, and an M.S. in quality management from BITS Pilani. He can be reached at Karthik.Padmanabhan@cognizant.com.