The global economic downturn is forcing companies to rethink their spending. IT budgets have not been spared. How to cut back on IT expenses is the theme of a number of sessions at IT Governance Africa 2009.
Lean IT is a session about applying Lean thinking to information technology. Instead of the typical across-the-board percentage reduction of budgets, Lean IT is a methodology for separating out “what is essential” and “what should go”.
Companies that have good governance in place will be able to respond quicker and more effectively, says Peter Hill, managing director of Info Sec Africa. All too often, companies have not aligned their day-to-day activities with the business' current strategic objectives. These companies are not able to separate out the activities that are important and those that can be sacrificed.
Heavy reliance on technology puts companies at risk during the economic downturn. Unable to streamline processes, companies have only one option and that is to cut staff numbers, further increasing their dependence on technology and increasing risks.
Better prepared companies with greater organisational maturity are able to cut out technology and systems that are not core to the business' operations, and rationalise IT operations. These companies will be able to apply Lean principles to their IT organisations.
Lean IT specialist Simon Liell-Cock says: “A close inspection of both Lean thinking and governance reveals the uncanny philosophical similarities between the two. Lean thinking has proven that it can reward organisations with spectacular improvements in quality and productivity, while at the same time reducing costs. An IT governance framework will greatly assist the speed and success of justifying, implementing and sustaining a Lean IT initiative.”
IT Governance Africa 2009 takes place in Sandton from the 22 - 24 June. For more information about this event, visit http://www.itgovernance.co.za.
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