Comments on: Social Networking for IT Organizations in a Recession http://vaughanmerlyn.com/2009/02/10/social-networking-for-it-organizations-in-a-recession/ 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/2009/02/10/social-networking-for-it-organizations-in-a-recession/#comment-562 itorganization2017 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:30:04 +0000 http://vaughanmerlyn.com/?p=1185#comment-562 Elliot, as usual, you have hit on something really important. Reminds me, it's probably worth a separate post - I will try to get to in the next few days! Standard ROI approaches do not fit many things IT enables, and therefore we either try to force fit them (which just about everyone sees through, so it doesn't work!) or we walk away from trying to come up with meaningful metrics, which is even worse. (See my post on "Measuring the Business Value of IT - Where You Can Win By Simply Trying!") In my post today (IT and Recession: Time to Partner With the CFO?) I make a double-edge sword proposition - partner with the CFO. The "edge" of the sword you reference is that the CFO typically ONLY understands ROI measures. On the other hand, I think you need to partner, and hopefully educate her on a richer and more meaningful way to define and track business value from the more innovative types of IT play. Elliot, as usual, you have hit on something really important. Reminds me, it’s probably worth a separate post – I will try to get to in the next few days!

Standard ROI approaches do not fit many things IT enables, and therefore we either try to force fit them (which just about everyone sees through, so it doesn’t work!) or we walk away from trying to come up with meaningful metrics, which is even worse. (See my post on “Measuring the Business Value of IT – Where You Can Win By Simply Trying!”)

In my post today (IT and Recession: Time to Partner With the CFO?) I make a double-edge sword proposition – partner with the CFO. The “edge” of the sword you reference is that the CFO typically ONLY understands ROI measures. On the other hand, I think you need to partner, and hopefully educate her on a richer and more meaningful way to define and track business value from the more innovative types of IT play.

]]> By: Elliot Ross http://vaughanmerlyn.com/2009/02/10/social-networking-for-it-organizations-in-a-recession/#comment-561 Elliot Ross Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:01:24 +0000 http://vaughanmerlyn.com/?p=1185#comment-561 Do you believe that some of the struggle has to do with attempting topin standard financial ROI metrics to these technologies? It can be hard to document a ROI that 'x' relationship managers utilize 'y' for their ideas and applications. Or is it required to recognize that you really want to try and earn value through the investment.? It seems to me the difficulty is quantifying a benefit either before, vs. after. Do you believe that some of the struggle has to do with attempting topin standard financial ROI metrics to these technologies?

It can be hard to document a ROI that ‘x’ relationship managers utilize ‘y’ for their ideas and applications.

Or is it required to recognize that you really want to try and earn value through the investment.?

It seems to me the difficulty is quantifying a benefit either before, vs. after.

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