Modern Industrialization: Re-defining IT Infrastructure in a Multi-polar World

The new IT infrastructure is far more global, more scalable and more connected to business strategy and must meet these challenges in the multi-polar world. This new IT infrastructure is enabled by achieving a state of delivery optimization—a very different and exciting milestone on the path to high performance.

Accenture High Performance Business research has identified three building blocks of high-performance businesses and governments. These building blocks are applicable to businesses as a whole and to specific entities within these firms. One of these building blocks, Performance Anatomy, describes the cultural and organizational characteristics needed to help a company out-execute its competition. Performance Anatomy describes the specific mindsets that we see in high-performance organizations, such as a focus on talent, performance measurement, continuous renewal and using IT as a strategic asset. The concepts of Performance Anatomy and Modern Industrialization have put IT on a path that is redefining how IT organizations are structured and contribute to outstanding business results.

Delivery optimization is affecting IT and its leaders. It is driving a powerful re-thinking of IT infrastructure and its role in the corporation. IT service providers are providing the first clues as to what IT will look like in the future. Outsourcers and integrators pioneered the IT infrastructure global service delivery model, creating global centers of excellence in low-cost countries, leveraging collaboration technology, industry-standard processes, low-cost telecommunications and large pools of highly skilled workers. These firms have built highly optimized solutions and solution centers. They have organized around specific competencies and continue to monitor the client and external world for new process, technological and service improvement opportunities. The best of these firms have created a true global network, based on seven distinct capabilities:

1. Service mindset/culture.
   
   
2. Talent management.
   
   
3. World-class processes/tools.
   
   
4. Global IT operations.
   
   
5. Advanced offsite and onsite service management delivering from the same delivery model.
   
   
6. Advanced procurement techniques.
   
   
7. IT infrastructure rationalization.

IT infrastructure delivery optimization is not a one-time action. It is long-term goal that is complex and difficult to achieve alone. Because of the ever-changing dynamics of business, IT has to continuously adapt to an evolving business environment. There is a specific path to IT infrastructure delivery optimization, and it requires IT organizations to balance a number of variables to achieve the desired outcome.