Comments on: CIO Priorities: Burger King http://www.sramanamitra.com/2009/11/14/cio-priorities-burger-king/ Sramana Mitra\'s Strategy Blog written from the cultural context of Silicon Valley and Entrepreneurship. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:46:45 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Copyright 2008, sramanamitra.com http://www.sramanamitra.com/banner-ej3.jpg Entrepreneur Journeys http://www.sramanamitra.com/download-manager.php?id=8 300 77 By: Narayanan Raman http://www.sramanamitra.com/2009/11/14/cio-priorities-burger-king/comment-page-1/#comment-430249 Narayanan Raman Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:53:51 +0000 http://www.sramanamitra.com/?p=14628#comment-430249 I am not sure if he is really talking about hiring new employees in that video. He instead is talking about the importance of outsourcing anything that is a "commodity" so that his in-house IT staff can engage in more value added IT work, namely business analysis, business relationship and so on. This makes sense. Let's look at it from the McKinsey 7S framework perspective. Systems and staff are two of the seven factors that have an influence on an organization. Staff, as you rightly pointed out is one of them. Systems, which include IT systems among several others, are another component. But when you specifically speak about IT systems, it is the "fundamental IT systems" that is the need of the day for Burger King. Now, in order to build these systems, they definitely need a strong team of IT professionals, both in house and outsourced, in place. That's how I would reconcile your views and mine. Thanks, Narayanan I am not sure if he is really talking about hiring new employees in that video. He instead is talking about the importance of outsourcing anything that is a “commodity” so that his in-house IT staff can engage in more value added IT work, namely business analysis, business relationship and so on. This makes sense.

Let’s look at it from the McKinsey 7S framework perspective. Systems and staff are two of the seven factors that have an influence on an organization. Staff, as you rightly pointed out is one of them. Systems, which include IT systems among several others, are another component. But when you specifically speak about IT systems, it is the “fundamental IT systems” that is the need of the day for Burger King. Now, in order to build these systems, they definitely need a strong team of IT professionals, both in house and outsourced, in place. That’s how I would reconcile your views and mine.

Thanks,
Narayanan

]]> By: Business Ed http://www.sramanamitra.com/2009/11/14/cio-priorities-burger-king/comment-page-1/#comment-430242 Business Ed Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:55:59 +0000 http://www.sramanamitra.com/?p=14628#comment-430242 You mention that the key foundation for the success of Burger King rests upon 'fundamental IT systems'. However, in an interesting interview that i came across the other day, (linked in my name) Raj initially spoke about the importance of staff, suggesting that hiring new employees was paramount to the success of the IT systems and in turn, the company as a whole. You mention that the key foundation for the success of Burger King rests upon ‘fundamental IT systems’. However, in an interesting interview that i came across the other day, (linked in my name) Raj initially spoke about the importance of staff, suggesting that hiring new employees was paramount to the success of the IT systems and in turn, the company as a whole.

]]> By: Graham Charters http://www.sramanamitra.com/2009/11/14/cio-priorities-burger-king/comment-page-1/#comment-430216 Graham Charters Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:14:08 +0000 http://www.sramanamitra.com/?p=14628#comment-430216 As a Senior Consultant at Evaxyx, I found this piece very useful and informative. Keep it up! At Evaxyx, we believe that information is at the heart of any modern enterprise, and that it must be used for business advantage. We always begin by constructing a model of the data used in an enterprise. Our models promote engagement over formality. Before any discussions on data can begin, it is essential that a common basis of understanding is achieved. There are always existing perspectives to accommodate. We do this by working collaboratively and intensely with our customers. Graham As a Senior Consultant at Evaxyx, I found this piece very useful and informative. Keep it up!
At Evaxyx, we believe that information is at the heart of any modern enterprise, and that it must be used for business advantage. We always begin by constructing a model of the data used in an enterprise. Our models promote engagement over formality. Before any discussions on data can begin, it is essential that a common basis of understanding is achieved. There are always existing perspectives to accommodate. We do this by working collaboratively and intensely with our customers.

Graham

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