Latest Reports

• Enterprise Transformation Through Product and Services Innovation

  Mattel has embarked on an ambitious transformation journey, with a focus on rebuilding Mattel's culture to re-focus on brand building, creativity, and innovation, while putting a premium on speed-to-market and accountability.

  March, 2017

• Moving from Cost Optimization to Value Realization through MGS

  The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, known as Freddie Mac, is a mortgage securitization firm. Avasant Director, Jim Lee, and Avasant Associate Director, Anthony Cilla, discussed in this case study the drivers, challenges, benefits, and results of Avasant's engagement with Freddie Mac.

  March, 2017

• Software-Defined Networking Adoption Trends and Customer Experience

  Software-defined networking (SDN) continues the trend of virtualizing everything in the data center. Server, storage, and desktop virtualization might be more accepted and mature, but SDN completes a puzzle that allows for an efficient, automated data center that can be quickly reconfigured. This study quantifies the current adoption and investment trends for SDN as well as the benefits driving companies to expand their SDN implementations. We assess these trends by organization size, sector, and geography. We look at the ROI and TCO experiences of adopters along with current investment levels. We conclude with practical advice for planning new investments in SDN. (18 pp., 9 fig.)[Research Byte]

  March, 2017

• Social Business/Collaboration Systems Adoption Trends and Customer Experience

  Social business/collaboration tools are a vital part of the productivity of the modern workforce. When deployed correctly, organizations have had excellent financial success with these systems. This study quantifies the current adoption and investment trends for social business/collaboration tools, as well as the benefits driving companies to expand their implementations of such systems. We assess these trends by organization size, sector, and geography. We look at the ROI and TCO experiences of adopters along with overall customer satisfaction. We conclude with practical advice for planning new investments in social business systems. (20 pp., 9 fig.)[Research Byte]

  February, 2017

• The Digital Age for Traditional Organizations

  For companies that were fundamentally founded on traditional models, the move toward digital is critical. However, these companies typically face more challenges than their digital native counterparts. Some are even digital skeptics that still view IT as a supporting and back office function, even as data shows that companies farthest along the on the digital maturity curve are 8 times more likely to have gained share than the 15% of companies that are least mature.

  February, 2017

• Use of Project Portfolio Management Continues to Fluctuate

  Just as a mutual fund manager manages a portfolio of stocks, IT executives use project portfolio management (PPM) to maximize the ROI of their IT projects as a portfolio. But although the majority of organizations have adopted PPM as a best practice, there is room for this discipline to grow.

  February, 2017

• Strategic Cost Optimization

  In the GCC, the record drop in oil prices over the past two years has put significant pressure on companies to quickly reduce their cost structures. Albeit quick, layoffs are not the most effective and productive route to achieve cost savings. Companies can use more effective methods to identify cost-cutting initiatives across the business that have a positive impact on overall performance and cost structures without jeopardizing the company's operational performance.

  January, 2017

• IT Asset Management: Keeping the Chaos Under Control

  Given the constantly changing nature of IT knowing precisely what equipment is owned and the current status of each item is essential. In this Research Byte, we review the adoption of this IT best practice.

  January, 2017

• IT Security Compliance Audits Growing But Still Room for More

  IT security policy audits are among the most popular of the best practices in our study, IT Management Best Practices, which measures the practice rates and levels of 33 IT disciplines. But surprisingly, there is room to grow.

  December, 2016

• Digital Business Transformation for Utilities Trends and Best Practices

  Major levers of digital transformation at utilities include technology solutions in customer experience, infrastructure transformation, back office process transformation, operations and production optimization, emerging technologies innovation and alternative energy.

  November, 2016

• Impacts of Brexit on Global Sourcing of Technology and Business Services

  Brexit, the shorthand notation for Britain's exit for the European Union, may have long-standing repercussions on the global economy, particularly on the technology services market. However, it also brings opportunities for those companies which can better adapt to new conditions.

  November, 2016

• Don’t Put Too Much Stock in Android’s Dominant Market Share

  In light of Android’s domination, is it time for IT organizations to change the way they develop and source mobile apps? This Research Byte explains why such a move would be premature.

  November, 2016