
Smarter Innovation: Road Map to the Future
Last spring, we were approached by the Academic Director of Columbia University’s Graduate Information and Strategy program, Katrina Pugh. She had received word about the innovative way our Change Agents work out loud in the cloud. We were asked to contribute to a management book published recently by ARK Group, “Smarter Innovation: Using Interactive Processes to Drive […]

CIO analysis: Audio interview on IT success and failure
Recorded audio interview discussing IT success and failure from a CIO perspective. Includes discussion of collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The New Consulting Metrics (for SaaS)
Suppose a consulting firm is helping your company choose between upgrading your ERP software or replacing it with a new SaaS (software as a service) solution. If the functionality is close, which solution would they recommend? Some clients might be surprised to learn that a consultant would recommend the on-premise solution over the cloud/SaaS solution […]

CIO view: ‘Feelgood mojo’ and the quest for consulting greatness
The best consultants, who genuinely do the right thing for clients, are worth their weight in gold.

Ariba Sells Sourcing Services, BPO Businesses to Accenture
In a surprise move, Ariba announced this morning that they were selling their sourcing services and BPO businesses to Accenture. At the time of the announcement, it was not clear whether all of these assets would end up with Acce…

AT Kearney and Booz to Merge? Procurement, Sourcing and Operations Implications
The business press has been buzzing today with the news of a potential merger between AT Kearney and Booz and Company. As a Friday research assignment, we decided to do a bit of homework on the size and background of both firms. This post contains …

Friday Rant: Quick, Target the Consultants! When McKinsey Gets a Haircut…
Over a Belgian ale at my local low-budget yet high-end gastropub in Chicago (Hopleaf) last week, I caught up with my good friend Kevin Brooks. Kevin is an extremely forward-thinking fellow when it come to contemplating where the procurement sector is going and what organizational priorities will be. And he’s usually — except when he’s […]

The IT failures blame game (part 1)
Few subjects are as controversial, emotionally charged, and fraught with misunderstanding as establishing blame for failed IT projects.

Ariba, Wipro, and the Consultant/Channel Game (Part 1)
Earlier in the week, Ariba announced it was partnering with Wipro Consulting
Services in a licensing deal. Ariba’s goal is to get the outsourcing firm’s consulting arm up and running on its sourcing application. Taken alone, the deal is unremarkab…

A Thriving Procurement Function for the Next Five Years — Part 1: Do You Speak Finance?
What will a thriving procurement function look like over the next five or so years? I’d like to begin a dialogue here on this blog, hoping that a number of people can share their perspectives on what a thriving procurement function helps to make happ…