For CIOs

CIOs: Develop A Technology Watch List

The Top 15 Technology Trends To Watch

by Sharyn Leaver, November 13, 2009

As IT executives set out their strategies and plan for 2010 and beyond, they must determine what the top technology trends are for their business and gauge IT's ability to support the next phase of technology innovation and growth. To help, Forrester . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: Use TEI To Unearth IT Investment "Options"

by Sharyn Leaver, September 21, 2009

As firms look to squeeze value from technology, IT executives' ability to understand, quantify, and communicate the flexibility options of an IT investment becomes vital for business health. Leveraging Forrester's Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) methodology . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: Categorize And Define Technology Investment Risk

by Sharyn Leaver, September 21, 2009

Failed, delayed, and misaligned IT projects have fueled business executives' dissatisfaction with IT. The benefit and cost estimates of technology investments provided by IT executives are often far from the realized business costs and benefits. To set . . .

For CIOs

Priorities Shift As Business' Grip On Technology Tightens

CIOs Can Drive Better Tech Decisions — Even When Business Is Making Them

by Bobby Cameron, Sharyn Leaver, July 17, 2009

In Q4 2008, Forrester surveyed 1,104 IT decision-makers to find out how they set their budgets and allocated funds to different software types and initiatives. As part of this study, Forrester asked where the ultimate software decision control resides . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: Note The IT Market Outlook, Q2 2009

by Sharyn Leaver, July 17, 2009

It's no surprise that the Q1 2009 tech market indicator data was dismal; however, Forrester predicts that the US tech market is more than halfway through the downturn. Poor Q1 results in both the US and the global market have prompted a reduction in our . . .

For CIOs

Two Texas Healthcare CIOs — Driven To Innovate

Texas Health And CHRISTUS Health Both Have Entrepreneurial Execs

by Sharyn Leaver, July 15, 2009

It's an exciting time to be a healthcare CIO. Technology advancements, healthcare consumerism, and government funding have created a perfect storm of opportunity for innovation. Forrester recently spoke with Texas Health CIO Ed Marx and CHRISTUS Health . . .

For CIOs

SOA: Dead Or Alive?

by Sharyn Leaver, July 10, 2009

Some recent buzz in the industry would have you believe that SOA is dead, but that just isn't the case — in fact, its use and influence are still growing. Stories of less-than-successful results may dent its reputation, particularly in today's climate . . .

For CIOs

Enterprise Software Budgets And Initiatives

Consolidation, Modernization, And Collaboration Are Top Software Priorities

by Sharyn Leaver, July 10, 2009

Budgeting and planning season is right around the corner, and an armful of new and unproven technologies and software initiatives promise to change the way IT conducts its business. IT organizations are wondering what to consider and what to let pass . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: New Sourcing Models Mean New Tactics For IT

by Sharyn Leaver, June 25, 2009

As emerging sourcing models such as managed hosting, SaaS, PaaS, and cloud-based services become more prevalent, traditional sourcing tactics, terms, and expectations may no longer be adequate. CIOs should be aware of the challenges their sourcing teams . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: Insist On TEI Calculations To Justify Business-Critical IT Investments

by Sharyn Leaver, April 22, 2009

Now more than ever, IT executives face difficult decisions around which IT investments in their portfolios to execute on, cancel, or defer. IT executives must identify the projects that are business-critical or strategic to maximize the business value . . .

For CIOs

CIOs: Consider Apps Support Alternatives For Cost Savings

Third-Party Apps Maintenance Is A Viable Option — Particularly In Tough Times

by Sharyn Leaver, March 26, 2009

Paying in advance for rarely used upgrades of applications like enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other software makes little sense in today's economic environment. Representing one-third of IT's software budget, these maintenance fees offer a significant . . .

For CIOs

Tools For IT Planning

by Sharyn Leaver, March 23, 2009

Strategic planning is more difficult than ever. Today's volatile economic environment means that IT must plan quickly, more flexibly, and more thoroughly. Plans that don't follow this path quickly become obsolete — sometimes even before they're completed. . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Possible Field Service Boon Despite Recession

Four Trends To Stay On Top Of To Be Successful In 2009

by Elisse Gaynor, Sharyn Leaver, March 11, 2009

Trailing a year's worth of economic challenges for businesses and consumers alike, the recession has hit — hard. While many undoubtedly look to curb spending and get the most from assets already in hand, field service organizations will be in the spotlight. . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Economic Insights For Process And Apps Pros

Plan For Inevitable Project Reprioritizations

by Elisse Gaynor, Sharyn Leaver, February 12, 2009

Given the gloomy economic climate, businesses large and small have difficult decisions ahead on the path to fiscal responsibility and stability. IT shops will be tempted and coerced to cut back in order to mitigate the effects of this downturn. However, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Process And Applications Pros Should Embrace Informal Learning Methods

by Sharyn Leaver, February 9, 2009

Continuously building knowledge is critical to improving the quality of your workforce, which is necessary now more than ever. But uncertain economic times mean human resources (HR) professionals face difficult decisions around managing the workforce . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Process And Apps Economic Downturn Insights  (188 KB PPT)

by Sharyn Leaver, Elisse Gaynor, January 22, 2009

Data highlights from Forrester¿s November 2008 Global Economic Downturn Insights Online Survey.

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Economic Necessity Of Customer Service

Five Recession-Busting Strategies To Cut Service Costs And Increase Sales

by Natalie L. Petouhoff, Ph.D., Sharyn Leaver, Andrew Magarie, January 21, 2009

In this economic climate, no one can afford to lose a customer. Rather than halting spending, smart customer service executives will use this economic downturn as an opportunity to regroup and reprioritize. What should they focus on? Top customer service . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Process & Applications Professionals: Must-Read Research In An Economic Downturn

by Sharyn Leaver, October 23, 2008

Although the first half of 2008 showed a steady pace of technology spending, according to our latest research it's very likely that a slowdown is coming. And in a down economy, businesses face tough decisions and inevitably look to cut spending. The good . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Case Study: Queensland Police Service Executes GIS By The Book

by Elisse Gaynor, Sharyn Leaver, August 12, 2008

Faced with disparate policing systems, corresponding silos of data, and degraded data quality, Australia's Queensland Police Service (QPS) launched a large-scale police records management and analysis overhaul to revive its police operational, tactical, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Five Trends That Will Shape The Business Process And Applications Profession In 2008

by Sharyn Leaver, December 27, 2007

Many business process and applications professionals rightfully focus their attention on the immediate project at hand, like an application upgrade or specific process improvement project. Yet many point to a lack of insight into future trends as an inhibitor . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Future Of Enterprise Applications

Will Emerging Dynamic Business Apps End The Reign Of Packaged Apps?

by Sharyn Leaver, December 21, 2007

The $103 billion enterprise applications market has experienced massive consolidation over the past few years and has delivered moderate innovation and revenue growth. Meanwhile, globalization, rapid market change, a changing workforce, and regulations . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Making Sense Of Sensor Data

A Market Overview Of X Internet Software Platforms And Applications

by Sharyn Leaver, September 26, 2007

The Extended Internet (X Internet) revolution is underway, with X Internet software about to take off to make sense of data that comes from technologies like RFID, sensors, and actuators that offer physical and time-specific information about objects. . . .

Oracle Clings To Retail Hopes With A Retek Bid

Oracle Makes A Counter Offer For Retek To Fend Off SAP

by Noha Tohamy, Sharyn Leaver, March 10, 2005

On Tuesday, a letter from CEO Larry Ellison announced Oracle's intent to counter-bid SAP to acquire retail apps vendor Retek. To better its chances in this offensive, Oracle is offering $9 per share, for a total of $525 million in cash, in comparison . . .

SAP Buys Retek To Stake Its Claim On Retail

by Sharyn Leaver, Noha Tohamy, March 1, 2005

Yesterday, SAP America announced a deal to buy Retek, a leading provider of retail applications. The acquisition — valued at almost $500 million — gives SAP's retail presence a much-needed boost and provides SAP with an opportunity to become the dominant . . .

Retailers' IT Spending Outlook For 2005

by Sharyn Leaver, January 21, 2005

Thirty-six percent of North American retailers will increase IT spending in 2005, which is on par with last year and with other industries. More important, retailers that are increasing spending will do so at a rate that's well above other industries. . . .