Optimising IT performance: Literature

The tech revolution of the 1990s forever altered the competitive landscape for financial services companies. Today's interconnected firms face a business environment that challenges them on multiple levels.

This paper discusses why industry and market forces will propel media businesses to become more open to business partners, customers and consumers -- opening content reserves and formatting, production processes, packaging and sales options without opening the company to increased vulnerability.

This survey identifies current practices, captures significant trends and establishes operational performance benchmarks in five key areas of supply chain management (SCM): new product development, supply chain planning, customer order management, procurement and logistics.

Today, finance is being pulled in two directions: There's a demand for finance to strengthen its traditional fiduciary role as guardian of the assets and controls; and for finance to become more nimble, efficient and effective in supporting business imperatives.

In the electronics industry today, business forces and the frantic pace of technological development have intensified the competitive landscape. Surviving and thriving in this environment requires constant vigilance to stay abreast of market forces.

MTV viewers live a 30-hour day -- they simultaneously Web surf, view DVDs, play MP3s, download movies, watch TV -- adding up to 30 hours of daily media consumption. Today audiences of all kinds are revolutionising how they access media and where and when they consume it.

A recent directive dictated that by 2007 European Original Equipment Manufacturers will be fully accountable and responsible for the treatment of Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). How Will corporations take on this new responsibility?

Electronics companies need to create new business models and networks that can flex with the unknown and the unpredictable -- resulting in an ability to manage earnings volatility in a quarter.

By creating an on demand operating environment, designed with open standards for ease of integration, insurers can implement new capabilities and the associated enabling technologies with significantly less effort.

Strategies to simultaneously balance and optimise the twin goals of trade facilitation for economic development and enhanced border integrity to protect national interests and public safety will help Customs agencies achieve long-term success.

In a challenging period for the downstream industry, companies are struggling to achieve real shareholder value. We believe to succeed, companies should revisit their strategic intent and recognise future forces that will shape the downstream. But a good strategy alone will not ensure success.

What are the different models for data synchronisation and what steps do industry participants need to take to begin exploiting data synchronisation's promised benefits?

The internet is increasing reinventing the way that businesses interact with governments. Now in their fourth year, the Economist Intelligence Unit's e-readiness rankings provide an established benchmark for countries to compare and assess their e-business environments.

The financial asset growth of the 1990's was an anomaly. As the market normalises, asset managers will need to focus on cost reductions rather than top-line expansion to fuel earnings. This starts with a change of mindset -- from managing assets to managing a complete portfolio of operations.

Data from a two-part survey of 138 people in three companies were analysed to discern how trust affects knowledge sharing and how individuals evaluate the trustworthiness of others when seeking knowledge.

To improve the relationship between business and IT, financial services firms need to construct flexible operational models that define how business and IT work together every day and at every level of the organisation.

In this paper, the IBM Institute for Business Value presents six key competencies and corresponding case studies to guide companies through an assessment of their current strengths in preparation for the future financial services marketplace.

In telecommunications (telecom) markets around the world, service providers are looking for options to manage their way through the current downturn.

Banking institutions across America show a striking dichotomy in terms of stock performance. Those that remain at the top of the charts display strategies and attributes that consistently garner shareholder value. These leaders share three distinct characteristics.

More than ever, government decisions have long-lasting impact on privacy, security, safety, efficiency, effectiveness and, of course, customer satisfaction. In short, national and global events have raised the bar on expectations from government.

Reducing costs, enhancing business capabilities, increasing customer satisfaction and improving performance across the enterprise have thus become leading IT imperatives.

The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries have been buzzing with the promise of personalised healthcare since the inception of the human genome project. As this decade unfolds, information technology will accelerate the delivery of advances in medical science and technology to the public.