book

Digital Transformation Game Plan

by Gary O'Brien, Guo Xiao, Mike Mason

October 2019

Beginner to intermediate

361 pages

10h 25m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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O’Reilly Online LearningHow to Contact UsAcknowledgments
Shareholder Value Versus Customer ValueIdentifying Your Simplified Model1. Understand Customer Value2. Use a Thin-Slice Approach3. Have the Correct Measures of Success4. Align Everything to the Work5. Create Visibility and TransparencyKey Points
Focusing on Customer OutcomesThe Impact of Technology on Value and ExpectationsThe Value of Peace of MindThe Value of Feeling in ControlThe Value of PersonalizationThe Value of Lower Transaction CostsEvolving to Customer OutcomesIt Takes Courage to ActHow to Get StartedKey Points
Why Big Transformation Programs FailBroad Transformation ApproachBiased Decision MakingCopying Others Rather Than Learning for YourselfImplementing a Thin SliceMeasure the SliceGet Everyone in on the SliceArrange Teams Around—and Across—the SliceSlice PatientlyMixing Thin Slices and Broader Transformation InitiativesThe Non-“End State”Managing Change FatigueKey Points
Customer Value MeasuresFinancial MeasuresIndividual KPIsImprovement MeasuresPutting It All TogetherKey Points
Cascade ApproachCascade Approaches in ActionRetrofit Current WorkPrioritization and GovernanceCase Study: Prioritization in ActionPivoting to a Simpler Prioritization ModelPrioritizing at Each Cascade LevelPutting It All TogetherKey Points
Visual SystemsSpacesObeya RoomProgram SpaceTeam SpaceReports and ChartsWalking the WallsKey Points

Organizational StructuresRole ObsessionDeath by CompromiseEvolving CultureKey Points
General Functional AlignmentThe Double-Triangle ModelFinanceAnnual CyclesOperating Expense and Capital ExpenseBusiness CasesProject-based fundingFunctional budgets and planningMeasuring completionHRExample Warning Signals: Employee Satisfaction Surveys and the Bell CurveTalent ManagementLegal and Regulatory ComplianceLaws and regulationsPolicy and ProceduresStandardsGovernanceJoining the digital transformation earlyDigitization of compliance itselfFocusing on analysis and remediationKey Points
Data as a Source of KnowledgeData as a Decision Point: Choosing What to DoExploreExploitSustainUse Data to Create an Intelligent EnterpriseData deciding for itselfPersonalized customer experiencesMake better human decisionsKey Points
Technology Excellence MattersInternal Software QualitySoftware Design and Technical DebtSkilled EngineersBusiness and Technology LeadershipGrowing and Empowering TalentBuild a Culture of LearningBuild a Culture of EmpowermentContinuous Delivery and DevOpsContinuous DeliveryDevOpsDigital PlatformsProducts over ProjectsThe Future Shape of the IT Department1. Build teams around business capability or customer outcomes2. “Two-Speed IT” is not sustainableKey Points
Which IT System Is a Utility Asset and Which Is a Strategic Asset?Systems of Record Can Be Highly StrategicLegacy Systems Should not Be Treated as a UtilityUtility Systems Can Become Strategic Due to Changes in the Business LandscapeWhy Internal Quality Matters for Strategic AssetsHigh Internal Quality Drives a Lower Total Cost of DevelopmentTechnical Debt Builds Up When Internal Quality DeterioratesTechnology Excellence Is a ChoiceAdopt Agile Engineering Practices, Beyond Just the Management PracticesKey Points
Build More Core Digital Capability In-HouseInsource Versus OutsourceHiring is Effective Only When You Have the Proper Internal CultureBuild a Culture of LearningCreate a Safe Environment to Provide FeedbackEncourage Continuous FeedbackCreate an Environment in Which It’s Safe to FailDon’t Cut the Training and Development BudgetLearning and Development Is an Important FunctionBuild a Culture of EmpowermentCommunicate and Share InformationDelegate Decision-Making AuthorityNurture the Sense of OwnershipRecruit for PotentialScaling Digital Talent Through Digital PartnersThe Cost-Driven Approach Is OutdatedWhat to Look for in a Digital PartnerKey Points
Release Software Features Early and ContinuouslyDoing the Hard and Painful Things Early and More FrequentlyDevOps Further Extends the Cross-Functional Team ConceptDevOps Is a Culture Change, Not a New Job TitleFour Key Metrics for SuccessSummaryKey Points
Modular, API-Enabled Architecture Instead of Monolithic ArchitectureIs This Simply Software Reuse?MicroservicesSelf-Service DataDelivery InfrastructureRemoving frictionLegacy System ModernizationSeven Steps to ModernizationEvolutionary ArchitectureKey Points
Defining Product ThinkingThe Difference Between Products and ProjectsThe Benefits of Product ThinkingHow to Enable Product OrientationChallenges when Moving to a Product-Centric WorldSummaryKey Points
Better Alignment Between Business and ITCreate an Explicit Strategy to Handle Growing Tech ComplexityAlign Teams with Customer Outcomes, Not Functional SystemsThere Shouldn’t Be Two SpeedsFocus on Building TeamsThe “T-Shaped” ProfessionalThe Blurring Boundary Between Business and ITBusiness Leaders Will Be More Involved in Technology DecisionsKey Points
The Frozen MiddleDriving Technology TransformationCreating Cultures of ExperimentationShaping the Future of WorkHow the Work Is DoneWhere the Work Is DoneWho Does the WorkNew Leadership TraitsKey Points
The 34 Tenets of Digital Transformation

Overview

The Digital Age is having a broad and profound impact on companies and entire industries. Rather than simply automate or embed digital technology into existing offerings, your business needs to rethink everything. In this practical book, three ThoughtWorks professionals provide a game plan to help your business through this transformation, along with technical concepts that you need to know to be an effective leader in a modern digital business.

Chock-full of practical advice and case studies that show how businesses have transitioned, this book reveals lessons learned in guiding companies through digital transformation. While there’s no silver bullet available, you’ll discover effective ways to create lasting change at your organization.

With this book, you’ll discover how to: