deal architect

Burning Platform: Software - Feast or Famine

In episode 9 of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I talk about the inconsistency of software availability. Some categories have too many choices and specialists; on the other hand, many business functions, geographies and industries have hardly any modern, robust choices. We also talk about alternative customer choices - ring-fence legacy, look at specialists, look at outsourcers etc.

Burning Platform: The Post-Pandemic world of the CIO

In episode 8 of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I discuss how the world of the CIO has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We cover a lot of ground around how on-premise and cloud applications fared as employees move to WFH, the many application holes they had to fill as business models evolved rapidly, the changing world of CIOs in a travel challenged world.

This episode is part of a trilogy which ran this week. The last couple of days we have run one on the impact on the CFO and one on the CHRO.

Burning Platform: The Post-Pandemic world of the CFO

In episode 6 of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I discuss how the world of the CFO has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the opportunities to be impactful as more changes appear on the horizon.

This episode is part of a trilogy. The next two episodes which will run this week focus on the impact on the CHRO and the CIO.

Burning Platform: Episode 5 - The need for new management science

In episode 5 of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I discuss what we have seen in the last few months about analytical tools and talent. We also talk about the need for a next generation management science to take it to the next level.

You may also find useful 12 trends in analytics in the last few months I had described here.

 

An epidemic (of content) during the pandemic

My two blogs, Deal Architect and New Florence have averaged 800 posts a year over the 15 years they have been running. 7 books have added another 2,000 pages.

A subtle shift occurred during the last two quarters which reflect the pandemic. The bulk of the posts are showing up in thematic series I have launched or accelerated. And a lot more of their content is in the form of videos and images.

The Analyst Cam

I have been excerpting videos from events, briefings, demos, presentations I have been invited to in my industry analyst role. As most of these have moved to virtual format, it has allowed to embed a shortened version with my commentary. Gives readers a bit of a "being right there" feel. Index of those posts is here. 

Acrobatics during the crisis

I have been interviewing (mostly via Zoom) C-level execs across industries about business acrobatics during the crisis. They have talked about heroics in healthcare, moving thousands to work from home, diversity initiatives, pivots, rapid innovation, massively scaling up or down. Has kept my spirits - and that of my audience - positive in the midst of the doom and gloom. It has also given me an amazing number of data points on changing markets to share with my advisory clients. Index here. 

Burning Platform

Weekly commentary with my colleague, Brian Sommer on trends we have been seeing in enterprise world such as: Are we finally seeing a end of life for on-premise applications? How will work from home formats evolve? These are a roughly 10 minute video format - meant to be both entertaining and educational. Index here. 

Passion Play

In this series, guest writers have written about their passions - hobbies, charities etc and how they have evolved with technology. I started this series a decade ago, and accelerated it this year to give people positive things to talk about and read. Index here. 

The Pandemic Diary

It would be nice for all of us to contribute to a time capsule about the pandemic. For some of us it would mean painful memories. Ours would be a bit more positive. Below is an extract from our Google Drive focused on the pandemic months.  I have long written copious notes about our family's travels. It started off as a tool to entertain my kids. During the pandemic, I have kept weekly notes and taken 000s of photos and videos on various COVID distancing and other signs, Johns Hopkins and other public health graphs but mostly as my wife, daughter and I have explored local places, cooked new meals etc. We share a few on Instagram and Facebook.  You may end up seeing another series titled "The West Coast of the East Coast" - living as we are on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  

A reader left a comment on New Florence this week

"Vinnie, I am constantly amazed on the variety of subjects you talk about."

and I responded

"Thank you! Better than politics:)"

The pandemic has allowed me to open up a fire hydrant of new content. Hopefully, it helps many stay somewhat positive in the troubling times we live in. 

Burning Platform: Episode 4 - The WTF about WFH

Most companies did a remarkable job moving tens of thousands of employees to WFH settings. In episode 4 of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I discuss what we have learned in the last few months about productivity, security, infrastructure improvements, likely upcoming hybrid models.  BTW, this WSJ survey of CEOs shows not all are thrilled with this "living in your office" format. Like it or not, they have adjusted to it, but we will likely end up with interesting hybrid models, hoteling, collaborative workspaces. 

 

Burning Platform: Episode 3 - School Buses or RVs

In this episode of the Burning Platform series, Brian Sommer and I discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SIs and outsourcers.

With travel challenged, they will need to move to much more remote projects and support. In doing so, they also have the opportunity to rethink their delivery models and include more shared services and automation.

Burning Platform: Episode 2 - Bumper quarter

Burning Platform: A new series on hot Enterprise topics with Brian Sommer

Brian Sommer and I go back nearly 30 years. We ran parallel Software Intelligence units at Andersen (now Accenture) and PwC (that unit is now part of IBM) and competed. The competition was tough at a professional level, but respectful at a personal level. He was one of the first people I called for counsel when I got a job offer from Gartner. At Gartner, I had to analyze Andersen so I got to torture Brian :)

We then co-founded a marketplace, IQ4hire. Our ambition was to digitize the entire SI/outsourcing sales and procurement process. It was ahead of its time in a world (our plans included proposal engines and video consultant resumes) where relationship selling ruled, but the rigor we codified two decades ago has allowed both of us to bring rigor to many a project since.

Many readers see us at vendor events. Many clients see us together on advisory projects. We look at problems from very different perspectives - something most clients appreciate. We also try to do so with humor. In (very) different ways, we are both story tellers as I wrote here. 

So, not surprisingly we talk quite often on a wide range of topics (and crack plenty of jokes and tell stories). During the COVID-19 pandemic, our conversations have moved to Zoom. We thought it would be fun to share some of our recent conversations about enterprise technology.

Here is the first episode in a series of hot topics - titled the Burning Platform. Notice on the cover how cool the man is, even in the face of the raging fire. That is a good metaphor for how we approach enterprise problems. We will share these on a regular basis, minus much of the snark, family talk and politics that creeps into our conversations.

It is a roughly 10 minute format. The first episode is about how on-premises and cloud applications have fared during the pandemic, and why customers still cannot easily jettison old, ugly on-premises baggage. We also make some recommendations.

Look forward to your feedback, and the opportunity to help you through complex enterprise issues. And do so with much needed humor in these crazy times!