Comments on: IT Portfolio Management – Avoiding the Tool Trap http://vaughanmerlyn.com/2008/11/20/it-portfolio-management-avoiding-the-tool-trap/ Vaughan Merlyn on the Changing Role of the IT Organization Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:38:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: itorganization2017 http://vaughanmerlyn.com/2008/11/20/it-portfolio-management-avoiding-the-tool-trap/#comment-476 itorganization2017 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:16:31 +0000 http://itorganization2017.wordpress.com/?p=855#comment-476 Russ, you make two important points here - first, that alignment is a process, not an event; and second, that the tools are important. But like most tools, only if they are used to enable a different process than what was in place before the tool was used. Thanks for the reinforcing comment! Russ, you make two important points here – first, that alignment is a process, not an event; and second, that the tools are important. But like most tools, only if they are used to enable a different process than what was in place before the tool was used. Thanks for the reinforcing comment!

]]> By: Russ Aebig http://vaughanmerlyn.com/2008/11/20/it-portfolio-management-avoiding-the-tool-trap/#comment-475 Russ Aebig Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:50:28 +0000 http://itorganization2017.wordpress.com/?p=855#comment-475 Great point Vaughan. This points out a little understood aspect of Business-IT alignment. While many consider alignment to be an event, it is much more of a process. In listening to the language used by CIO's and business leaders you can usually tell the difference between organizations who are a) not aligned - and often working at cross purposes, b) believe they are aligned - because they had an alignment meeting last year, and c) are aligned due to the hard work they collectively put into the process of alignment. As you know, the process of alignment is not easy. It can be hard work - especially at the beginning. But the benefits are real. The options you enable, and agility you create is real. The financial benefits are significant. ...but not if taken as an event. In the spirit of soon to be Holiday spirit, I raise my glass to toast the benefits of tools. But let us give thanks to those who help us understand why and how to use the tools within the framework of a process which will leverage the tools and allow us to continually (if incrementally) improve the situation for which the tools were originally purchased. As with portfolio management, the tools are necessary but far from sufficient. Great point Vaughan. This points out a little understood aspect of Business-IT alignment. While many consider alignment to be an event, it is much more of a process.
In listening to the language used by CIO’s and business leaders you can usually tell the difference between organizations who are a) not aligned – and often working at cross purposes, b) believe they are aligned – because they had an alignment meeting last year, and c) are aligned due to the hard work they collectively put into the process of alignment.
As you know, the process of alignment is not easy. It can be hard work – especially at the beginning. But the benefits are real. The options you enable, and agility you create is real. The financial benefits are significant. …but not if taken as an event.
In the spirit of soon to be Holiday spirit, I raise my glass to toast the benefits of tools. But let us give thanks to those who help us understand why and how to use the tools within the framework of a process which will leverage the tools and allow us to continually (if incrementally) improve the situation for which the tools were originally purchased.

As with portfolio management, the tools are necessary but far from sufficient.

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