A Practical Guide to Reducing It Costs

by Cassidy, Anita; Cassidy, Dan

• ISBN13: 9781604270334
• ISBN10: 1604270330
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-12-01
• Publisher: J. Ross Publishing

Summary

This book provides a toolkit of innovative ideas to assess and reduce costs in an IT organization.It outlines a compilation of practical advice based on interviews and comments from more than 60 CIOs and IT leaders, and other proven successful ideas.

Author Biography

Anita Cassidy has over 30 years experience in IT. For the first 20 years of her career, she was a practitioner and held a variety of positions such as CIO and Vice President-IT in worldwide manufacturing companies. She has been an IT executive consultant for the past 10 years and is currently a partner of IT Directions. Anita has authored four best-selling IT books, has written for various magazines, such as Info World, Twin and Inc. Technology, and she speaks nationally on strategic planning and improving IT. Dan Cassidy also has over 30 years of IT experience. Dan's experience includes work at several major airlines, a railroad, computer manufacturer, and a major health clinic. He has led major initiatives to cut IT infrastructure costs while improving overall service. He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
About the Authors	p. xv
Cost Reduction Strategies	p. 1
Business Applications	p. 4
Technical Infrastructure	p. 12
IT Processes	p. 18
IT Organization	p. 28
Key Points to Remember	p. 32
The Budgeting Process	p. 35
Budget	p. 36
Financial Options	p. 40
Communication	p. 44
Perspective	p. 56
Key Points to Remember	p. 57
The Cost Reduction Project	p. 59
Establish Goals	p. 59
Obtain Information	p. 64
Analyze	p. 66
Identify and Prioritize Actions	p. 69
Execute	p. 78
Monitor and Improve	p. 80
Key Points to Remember	p. 80
Business Applications	p. 83
Application Portfolio	p. 84
Purchasing Application Software Licenses	p. 96
Application Maintenance and Support Agreements	p. 108
Software Implementation	p. 112
Custom Application Development	p. 117
Additional Application Options	p. 120
Key Points to Remember	p. 122
Technical Infrastructure	p. 125
Preparing for Infrastructure Reductions	p. 125
Overall Infrastructure Strategies	p. 128
Data Network	p. 135
Voice Network	p. 139
Servers	p. 152
Storage	p. 161
Desktops	p. 163
Data Center	p. 170
Key Points to Remember	p. 172
IT Processes	p. 175
Process Overview	p. 176
Service Delivery	p. 180
Service Support	p. 185
Systems Implementation	p. 192
Manage Resources	p. 195
Manage Business Relationship	p. 207
Key Points to Remember	p. 211
Organization and People	p. 215
Workforce Options	p. 215
Organization Size	p. 225
Organization Structure	p. 231
Employee Benefits and Motivation	p. 235
Key Points to Remember	p. 240
Overhead and Miscellaneous Costs	p. 241
Overhead Costs	p. 241
Machines and Equipment	p. 242
Training	p. 247
Travel	p. 249
Meal and Entertainment Expenses	p. 250
Other Expenses	p. 251
Key Points to Remember	p. 251
Communication	p. 253
Communicating with the Business	p. 253
Communicating with IT	p. 256
Key Points to Remember	p. 260
Cost Reduction Pitfalls	p. 261
Communication and Change Management	p. 261
Governance and Business Alignment	p. 265
Project Execution	p. 266
Cost Reduction Tactics	p. 267
Barriers	p. 269
Sustaining Culture	p. 270
Key Points to Remember	p. 271
IT Value	p. 273
Definition of Value	p. 274
Components for Value Generation	p. 277
Cost Reduction	p. 279
Key Points to Remember	p. 281
Conclusion	p. 283
Cost Reduction Maturity Model	p. 283
Reduction Tactic Summary	p. 285
Leadership	p. 290
Culture	p. 292
Economic Recovery	p. 292
Key Points to Remember	p. 293
Index	p. 295
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