Using the same software and processes as the competiation will only make a company the same as their competiation. To be really innovative these days, companies need to be able to change processes quickly. This means that their software has to change at the same speed. No longer can companies wait for "the next release" to get a new feature.
Any supplier (particularly tier 1 as we are) to Ford will know that Ford
has ALOT of custom software. It has taken them years to develop an
integrated/cross Divisional system. They have not scrapped the legacy
systems, only web-enabled them. The link to the "everest" article even shows that Ford is going back to a legacy app.
I was the decision maker in my organization to decide for SAP R/3 back in
1995. It was the right decision at the time. However, these days, the
COTS software can not respond to changes fast enough to support the
business. It is bulky, hard to configure and costs a bundle (license as
well as support costs). IF a company wants to truely leapfrog its
competation then it will have to switch to software that supports its
specific processes, software that can change as fast as the business
changes. The way to do that is to use the open-source philosophy and
methods. There are too many rules about development and use of software
these days. Its time to get IT (and the business departments) back to the
basics of supporting what is needed to support the customer and business
partners. We have to get away from Supporting companies like Microsoft
and SAP. IF they can support us then well and good.. If not, there is a
better way for those with the courage to ignore the consultants and take the less traveled path.
Slashdot Mirror
Using the same software and processes as the competiation will only make a company the same as their competiation. To be really innovative these days, companies need to be able to change processes quickly. This means that their software has to change at the same speed. No longer can companies wait for "the next release" to get a new feature. Any supplier (particularly tier 1 as we are) to Ford will know that Ford has ALOT of custom software. It has taken them years to develop an integrated/cross Divisional system. They have not scrapped the legacy systems, only web-enabled them. The link to the "everest" article even shows that Ford is going back to a legacy app. I was the decision maker in my organization to decide for SAP R/3 back in 1995. It was the right decision at the time. However, these days, the COTS software can not respond to changes fast enough to support the business. It is bulky, hard to configure and costs a bundle (license as well as support costs). IF a company wants to truely leapfrog its competation then it will have to switch to software that supports its specific processes, software that can change as fast as the business changes. The way to do that is to use the open-source philosophy and methods. There are too many rules about development and use of software these days. Its time to get IT (and the business departments) back to the basics of supporting what is needed to support the customer and business partners. We have to get away from Supporting companies like Microsoft and SAP. IF they can support us then well and good.. If not, there is a better way for those with the courage to ignore the consultants and take the less traveled path.