Review IT is an information bulletin that raises the issues we consider to be important to senior management.
With the adverse impact on the ITC marketplace we have decided to reformat Review IT to bring regular ideas to attention of ITC managers to stimulate their thinking and actions.
Last year (2005) we focused on the problems created by failure of the IT and Telecoms service and equipment suppliers to serve either the end user market place needs or their own stockholders.
In 2006 many of the dubious actions of existing and new players has disappeared, as jail sentences and new legislation like Basel II and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act come into effect.
Unfortunately, many incompetent execs are still in place and their companies face the biggest threat: - INERTIA. Meanwhile the Market moves on seizing Voice over IB, Broadband and where feasible, triple play from new companies and a few reincarnated incumbents who have decided "a bold move is better than no move".
Key corporate concerns for 2006 are:
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Too much talk about new business approaches to the market but little reality. |
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No visible change in strategic approach by existing providers and service suppliers. |
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Suppliers unable to link their IT to telecoms solutions and vice versa. |
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New applications but not visible value added. |
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New integrated services for SMEs that require a genius to assemble together. |
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Inability to offer real security support at reasonable prices. |
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Continued pay rises for CEOs of suppliers as revenues rise and profits collapse. |
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Regulators not addressing the needs of the market and/or not permitting providers to make "reasonable" profits because of bureaucracy. |
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Venture capitalists still insisting on only taking risks with guarantees of the lendees or his partners. |
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The lack of real IT investment in keeping business competitive in expanding global markets. |
| The questions for the marketplace are: | |
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When did you last assess your market prospects and competitiveness? |
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As communications expand internally to customers and suppliers, how are the company's USPs being protected? |
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As IT forces vertical integration inside the business, how can it function horizontally across the marketplace? |
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Is management still talking about "Right Sizing" and Product Line simplification, or is their a real business strategy that moves the business forward, not just keeping it in place. |
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Has this stopped your focus on own market place, the competition and the opportunities? |
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Do you need an assessment of any of these areas (savings, change, growth and future)? |