Neelesh Mull

IT Governance: Stop the Pendulum!

IT governance does not a have a one size fits all approach, it depends heavily upon the nature of the firm and industry. A centralized model can lead to the corporate headquarters to overreach their boundaries and restrict growth due to bureaucratic processes. A decentralized approach can create a loss of control and consistency within a firm. It also tends to create a climate in which shared intellectual capital becomes rare. It is important for a CIO along with the management team to properly evaluate the structure of the business and determine a suitable tactic. It would appear that some sort of hybrid technique is most appropriate as a single method would be difficult to justify in the dynamic business environments that exist on a global basis.

In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits

The age of user information sharing has revolutionized the manner in which innovation occurs. The existence of templates and the frames of ideas in technology create a foundation for entrepreneurs and innovators. It also aids to conceptualize notions without sinking large sums of money into a project. As the innovations gain traction, existing technology assists in the manufacturing and marketplace of products. It is a truly revolutionary manner in which to introduce products from the point of concept thought to the large scale production and sale.

The Globalization of Wyeth

The unique nature of the pharmaceutical industry creates barriers to implementing a global IT structure. Each country and region presents regulatory restrictions in the manner in which business processes can take place. A highly centralized approach is difficult to manage as the legislative environment is too dynamic to effectively oversee. A decentralized approach tends to lead to a loss of control and lacking of information sharing that lends itself to inadequate decision making. Wyeth’s RBC method creates an excellent hybrid atmosphere that utilizes local resources while maintaining a standardization on an enterprise wide level.