EDS Review of The IT Value Stack - Part 3

Here's the last of three posts that respond to The IT Value Stack review that Charlie Bess of EDS wrote on their blog, The Next Big Thing.

Charlie said:

3. One other area that wasn't brought out in the book that I'd like to hear Ade's perspective on is: Cloud Computing. Most of the folks who are working in cloud computing can spell "cost" fairly well, but don't understand "value" and what the organizations will require to use it as an integral part of their business. We'll see how many lessons are going to be learned in that space before there are some changes in the market.

I do believe there was a great deal of useful material in the book and it should make the reader sit back and contemplate their ability to adapt and adopt the concepts, since in any shift like this the leader must ensure that there are followers.

My response:

I have only recently come across the term Cloud computing. It looks like an attempt to bundle grid, virtualisation and utility computing into business/media friendly concept.

That said, extracting better value from one's IT assets is to be applauded. Three years ago grid computing in particular was marketed by IBM but was still really a subject for comp sci academics. In the last year I have seen it turn into commercial reality, particularly amongst investment banks. But true grid computing whereby the user devices contribute to load sharing as well as the servers is some way off as the security implications and underlying architectural requirements are horrendous. But this may move forward faster than I expect because the concept at least is boardroom-friendly. I am sure the out sourcing community will put their shoulder behind it as it strengthens further their value proposition.

I have enjoyed responding to your thought provoking comments and would be happy to take the discussion forward. I have worked with EDS in the UK in respect of helping the IT recruitment function in respect of talent management.

These are interesting times!