Introduction to Cloud Computing

This paper describes cloud computing, its main characteristics and the models that are currently used for both deployment and delivery. It examines the benefits and business issues with using the cloud, and how they can be addressed. It describes some of the early adapters of cloud computing, together with their experiences

IT Governance: Enabling effective, efficient, and acceptable use of IT

This position paper presents an overview of key insights on IT governance. The core concepts discussed in this paper are informed by ISO 38500, which is the internationally recognized standard that provides governing bodies and those who advise and assist them with guidance on how to effectively govern IT and meet compliance with their external regulatory obligations and internal policies. This standard, along with insights from pertinent academic and practitioner literature and subject matter experts, have informed the development of IVI’s IT-CMF Governance (GOV) Critical Capability

Data Analytics: Preparing and exploiting data for value

This Data Analytics (DA) position paper presents an overview in summary form of key literature (academic and practitioner) that has informed the shape and scope of the Data Analytics (DA) Critical Capability (CC) of IT-CMF in the digital business context

Understanding and Supporting Cloud Computing Adoption in Irish Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Cloud Computing adoption has experienced a considerable rate of growth since its emergence in 2006. In 2011, it had become the top technology priority for organizations worldwide and according to some leading industry reports the cloud computing market is estimated to reach $241 billion by 2020. Reasons for adoption are multi‐fold, including for example the expected realisation of benefits pertaining to cost reduction, improved scalability, improved resource utilization, worker mobility and collaboration, and business continuity, among others. Research into the cloud computing adoption phenomenon has to date primarily focused on its impact on the larger, multinational enterprises. However, one key area of the market where cloud computing is expected to hold considerable promise is that of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME). SMEs are recognized as being inherently different from their larger enterprise counterparts, not least from a resource constraint perspective and for this reason, cloud computing is reported to offer significant benefits for SMEs through, for example, facilitating a reduction of the financial burden associated with new technology adoption. This paper reports findings from a recent study of Cloud Computing adoption among Irish SMEs. Despite its suggested importance, this study found that almost half of the respondents had not migrated any services or processes to the cloud environment. Further, with respect to those who had transitioned to the cloud, the data suggests that many of these SMEs did not rigorously assess their readiness for adopting cloud computing technology or did not adopt in‐depth approaches for managing the cloud lifecycle. These findings have important implications for the development/improvement of national strategies or policies to support the successful adoption of Cloud Computing technology among the SME market. This paper puts forward recommendations to support the SME cloud adoption journey

Understanding and Supporting Cloud Computing Adoption in Irish Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Cloud Computing adoption has experienced a considerable rate of growth since its emergence in 2006. In 2011, it had become the top technology priority for organizations worldwide and according to some leading industry reports the cloud computing market is estimated to reach $241 billion by 2020. Reasons for adoption are multi-fold, including for example the expected realisation of benefits pertaining to cost reduction, improved scalability, improved resource utilization, worker mobility and collaboration, and business continuity, among others. Research into the cloud computing adoption phenomenon has to date primarily focused on its impact on the larger, multinational enterprises. However, one key area of the market where cloud computing is expected to hold considerable promise is that of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME). SMEs are recognized as being inherently different from their larger enterprise counterparts, not least from a resource constraint perspective and for this reason, cloud computing is reported to offer significant benefits for SMEs through, for example, facilitating a reduction of the financial burden associated with new technology adoption. This paper reports findings from a recent study of Cloud Computing adoption among Irish SMEs. Despite its suggested importance, this study found that almost half of the respondents had not migrated any services or processes to the cloud environment. Further, with respect to those who had transitioned to the cloud, the data suggests that many of these SMEs did not rigorously assess their readiness for adopting cloud computing technology or did not adopt in-depth approaches for managing the cloud life cycle. These findings have important implications for the development/improvement of national strategies or policies to support the successful adoption of Cloud Computing technology among the SME market. This paper puts forward recommendations to support the SME cloud adoption journey

How IT-CMF can increase the Energy Efficiency of Data Centres

Data centres and their management are under increasing pressure; to increase the efficiency of their operations, to reduce their carbon emiss ions and to contribute to the bottom line by reducing their costs. To help address these issues, IVI a consortium of leading organizations from industry, the non - profit sector, and academia has developed and tested a framework for systematically assessing and improving Energy Efficien cy capabilities within a mature Data Centre. This paper describes IVI’s approach, by detailing the maturity model which identifies current practices, targets achievable goals, and develops an improvement roadmap so these targ ets can be achieved

How IT-CMF can increase the Energy Efficiency of Data Centres

Data centres and their management are under increasing pressure; to increase the efficiency of their operations, to reduce their carbon emiss ions and to contribute to the bottom line by reducing their costs. To help address these issues, IVI a consortium of leading organizations from industry, the non - profit sector, and academia has developed and tested a framework for systematically assessing and improving Energy Efficien cy capabilities within a mature Data Centre. This paper describes IVI’s approach, by detailing the maturity model which identifies current practices, targets achievable goals, and develops an improvement roadmap so these targ ets can be achieved

Rethinking IT Sourcing and Supplier Management for the Digital Age

In the new era of digital transformation, the role of IT sourcing is becoming more strategic. A recent global outsourcing survey showed 53% of respondents outsource elements of their IT function and that continued growth in outsourcing is expected for the foreseeable future. Due to dependency on external partners, there is an increase in both the potential opportunities and the risks involved. Organizations can benefit from integrating third party capabilities, and accommodating ‘outside in’ innovation that leverages the considerable knowledge base of supply partners and creates synergies among other business ecosystem participants. Despite these opportunities, sourcing organizations have many challenges to contend with, such as sustainable supply chain governance, end-to-end traceability, legal and regulatory global compliance, data privacy, and tolerance for risk in service level agreements and contracts. New outsourcing models such as cloudsourcing, microsourcing, crowdsourcing, impact sourcing and rural sourcing have evolved, and many of these new models require behavioural and managerial type shifts. In order to address these challenges, organizations and their suppliers need strong complementary capabilities to build successful relationships. Both contractual and relational governance are important, and organizations additionally need to maintain a strategy of agility and adaptability in order to mitigate the lock-in and dependency risks associated with outsourcing. This paper presents a review of pertinent literature, and discusses core learnings in relation to impacts on sourcing and supplier management in a digital business landscape. Based on an analysis of the literature and insights gained from engaging with industry and academic experts, the paper proposes a model that can be used to develop a capability to support effective sourcing and supplier management. This model provides a basis for further development in an industry/academia collaborative research project and aims to provide practical guidance to organizations in facing key challenges and optimizing the opportunities of IT sourcing and supplier management in the era of digital transformation

Exploring the Determinants of IoT Adoption: Findings from a Systematic Literature Review

The Internet of Things (IoT) heralds a new era of disruptive technologies that provide organizations with both benefits and challenges. However, organizational adoption of IoT is not yet widespread and greater understanding of the phenomenon is required. This study examines the existing literature on the key determinants (drivers, benefits, barriers, and challenges) that influence the adoption of IoT by organizations. Therefore, this paper presents findings from a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and concept matrix approach to identify these IoT adoption determinants at the organizational level. The key constructs of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) were examined in relation to the determinants identified to understand applicability of this theory in the IoT context. Future research will complement these findings through an empirical investigation. Therefore, the overall aim of this research is 1) to generate a model that outlines the determinants influencing organizational IoT adoption and 2) to ascertain the applicability of UTAUT in understanding IoT adoption and to further enrich UTAUT by contextualizing its constructs to the IoT phenomenon

Enterprise Cloud Adoption - Cloud Maturity Assessment Model

The introduction and use of cloud computing by an organization has the promise of significant benefits that include reduced costs, improved services, and a pay-per-use model. Organizations that successfully harness these benefits will potentially have a distinct competitive edge, due to their increased agility and flexibility to rapidly respond to an ever changing and complex business environment. However, as cloud technology is a relatively new phenomenon, there is still a lot to learn about the adoption and use of cloud, including issues such as security, data protection, interoperability, service maturity, and return on investment. These issues need to be considered,and if possible remediated,toenablean organization to effectivelymanage itscloud adoption journey. This paper describesan assessmentmodelthat was developed by the Innovation Value Institute (IVI) using a multi method, two-phasedapproach. The first phase involveda review of the currentacademic and practitioner literature in the area of cloud.Based on the key insights identified, together with inputs from a workgroup of industry experts anonline cloud adoption assessmentinstrumentwas developed. This assessmentinstrument aimedto provide organizations with a management structure to understand and assess their Enterprise IT capability maturity to evaluate, introduce,and manage cloud services. The second phase employed the principles of design science and open innovation to pilot, test, validate, and refine the cloud adoption assessment in collaboration with industry-based practitioners.As companies continue to grapple with the issues posed by cloud, the cloud adoption assessment willallow an organization to clearly determine their ability to manage:•Cloud security•Compliance•Dataprotection•Cloud service provider(s)•Costs•Impact on business and IT•The interoperability and integration between existing in-houseand cloud-basedservicesBy using the assessmentmodel, the level of maturity will identify areas of strengthand weakness within the organization and serve asthe basis for an improvement roadmap,to ensure the successful adoption andon-going management of cloud