Adopting cloud with conviction
March 2, 2018
How will you handle two IT organizations?
To drive innovation and profitable growth, more and more companies are embracing a cloud strategy—private cloud, public cloud or hybrid. When they do, they need to make a clear-eyed assessment about how to position the cloud organization in the larger enterprise. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask:
- What’s the best way to integrate legacy IT resources with cloud resources and systems?
- Do synergies exist between the legacy operation and the new business?
- If the cloud organization is a new, standalone business unit, what’s the best way to provide core functions?
The importance of integration
Integration of your new, cloud-based capabilities is important. Otherwise, your digital platform is in danger of becoming just another box on the org chart. Instead, it needs to be a transformational engine that powers your company to digital parity with your competitors.
In part, this is an operational challenge. Companies need to reconcile their legacy, standard operating procedures with the cloud organization’s organic agility. Because cloud-based innovation projects often shift the direction of the company, leaders need effective ways to quickly gauge progress and mitigate issues as they occur.
Integrating cloud and legacy: Take the right steps
How do you successfully reconcile your legacy, standard operating procedures with your new, cloud organization’s organic agility? It requires resolute leadership, strong operational alignment and a clear execution roadmap. But most important, it requires fearless conviction.
How to adopt cloud with conviction: Three keys to success
Accenture’s implementation experience points to three ways you can effectively manage your cloud strategy while always keeping your legacy organization in mind.
Get the entire organization on boardTrain employees in cloud solutions, tools and apps. Make a “cloud first” pledge for all your future innovations.
Go agileCreate a top-to-bottom agile organization, not just in development but for every area of the company. Manage projects and services in “sprints and scrums” with clearly assigned ownership responsibilities to create urgency and boost speed.
Get rid of excess baggageTo reduce IT drag, embark on a mission for lean workloads. De-commission services you no longer use.
Are you ready for the challenges of adding cloud to your legacy organization? Learn how to make it happen.
