IT Portfolio Management Step-by-Step: Unlocking the Business Value of Technology

Case Studies

This book concludes with three case studies from exemplar companies actively using all or some aspects of IT portfolio management. Each case study follows the same format: description of the company and the situation, the approach, the results, and the lessons learned.

The first case study is from Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. The case study provides valuable and important insight into Cisco's IT project portfolio. The second case study is from In-Q-Tel, a private, nonprofit enterprise funded by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The case study shows how In-Q-Tel engages with entrepreneurs, established companies, researchers, and venture capitalists, identifying and investing in companies that develop cutting-edge information technologies. In-Q-Tel exemplifies best practices in the IT discovery and project portfolios. The final case study is from Xcel Energy, which provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. In terms of customers, it is the fourth largest combination natural gas and electricity company in the United States. The case study provides details of the step-by-step leading practices of IT governance and IT portfolio management.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco, almost a common household name for a company that until 2003 didn't exactly sell household products, has enjoyed ...