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Cprime Secures Triple Win at Apptio’s 2024 TBM Partner Awards

Posted on November 15, 2024 by - Company News

Modern Operating Models and Strategic Portfolio Management Recognized for Excellence

SAN MATEO, CA — November 15, 2024 — Cprime, a leading global consulting firm specializing in enterprise business management and strategic Apptio consulting partner, announced today that it received three prestigious awards from Apptio at the 2024 Technology Business Management (TBM) Partner Awards, hosted at the annual TBM Conference:

  • Global Agile Partner of the Year 2024
  • Americas Agile Partner of the Year 2024
  • Americas Regional Partner of the Year 2024

This triple award recognition highlights Cprime’s ongoing commitment to helping enterprises maximize technology investments, embrace modern ways of working, and connect enterprise strategy to execution by reshaping operating models and optimizing workflows. No other partner has ever simultaneously won global and regional Partner of the Year awards, highlighting the worldwide scope of that commitment.

“We are incredibly honored to receive these recognitions, which underscore the trust that our clients and Apptio place in us,” said Konstantin Popov, Vice President, Enterprise Technology, Strategic Portfolio, and Financial Management. “Our collaborative work with Apptio exemplifies our dedication to guiding organizations through comprehensive technology and overall enterprise business management transformations and delivering high-value customer experiences.”

Celebrating Client Success

At the conference, Cprime’s clients were also recognized for their achievements:

  • Citizens Bank was awarded the Agile Portfolio Management Award for its exceptional integration of TBM capabilities with Agile processes, showcasing industry-leading collaboration and performance.
  • BNY Mellon received the Value Realization Award for aligning TBM value with strategic objectives and setting a new standard for the role of technology in driving business outcomes.

These awards reflect the strength of Cprime’s collaborative and strategic approach in aligning TBM principles with modern portfolio and financial management best practices to empower clients. We’re proud to have been a part of their success.

About Cprime

Partnering with over 300 of today’s Fortune 500, Cprime is a global consulting firm helping enterprises leverage technology and optimal workflows to boost ROI, minimize risk, and future-proof their business with tailored, experience-driven solutions. For more information on how Cprime can help optimize your enterprise technology and financial portfolio management, visit https://www.cprime.com/agile/enterprise-technology-and-financial-management/

4 Insightful ServiceNow GenAI Use Cases to Reduce Manual Work for Agents with Case Summarization

Posted on August 21, 2024 by - Agile & DevOps, AI-Ready Foundations

Case Summarization for IT workflows is the latest inclusion in the ServiceNow Vancouver release powered by GenAI. This feature helps employees quickly locate and understand essential document details. It consolidates relevant information and touchpoints from IT, HR, and customer service cases into summary notes within seconds.

It is an exciting time for the tech industry. With all the buzz around AI, INRY, a ServiceNow elite partner, is in a great position to combine AI technologies like Generative AI (GenAI) on the Now platform. We are powered by proprietary ServiceNow large language models (LLMs) tailored to understand the Now Platform, workflows, and automation use cases. 

Case Summarization for IT workflows

The Large Language Model (LLM) for case summarization is based on a specialized version of the 15-billion-parameter StarCoder model. It was developed as part of ServiceNow’s co-led open BigCode initiative and tuned with Nvidia accelerated computing and DGX Cloud.

Case Summarization leverages generative AI to seamlessly filter information, including the data from IT environments, HR records, and customer service cases. The aim is to streamline and enhance the efficiency of IT operations. The feature enables faster handoffs between team members and achieves more efficient resolution processes.

Case Summarization: Focus on Value by Reducing Manual Efforts

The Case Summarization feature is designed to help employees focus on more valuable work, improve employee satisfaction, and reduce burnout. It reads and summarizes relevant information, including case or incident details, previous touchpoints, and actions by all involved parties, to create detailed case summary notes within seconds.

Objectives of Case Summarization

  • Reduce manual work for agents with overviews and insights to help them start work fast.
  • Easily summarize case or incident records with the click of a button
  • Quickly review pertinent information with an “at-a-glance” view
  • Keep data secure using ServiceNow’s native LLM

The technology reads and distils information from IT tickets, case files, service requests, and conversations for customer or employee issues to create summary notes in seconds. It helps automate manual tasks, reduces hand-off times between teams, speeds resolutions, and increases productivity for employees and customers.

Case Summarization models are trained on real-world data sets specific to the Now Platform, workflows, and automation use cases. The features enable faster and more reliable results and are now available to select customers through the ServiceNow Assist product.

4 Key Use Cases of Generative AI Case Summarization

One of the critical use cases for generative AI is summarization — refining all the actions and touchpoints in a case into a single summary. This could make handoffs smoother between agents and allow teams to resolve problems more quickly, improve processes, and increase alignment. 

Additionally, generative AI significantly simplifies navigating institutional knowledge and policies within the service platform’s knowledge base. This enhancement aids users in quickly finding relevant information and understanding organizational guidelines, thereby improving overall efficiency and user experience.

  • The capability helps streamline handoffs between representatives and accelerate reporting
  • Sharing case resolutions with other teams will become easy
  • The results can make IT workflows more data-driven
  •  Increase alignment and boost productivity across the organization

A recent study by Valoir revealed that when applied effectively, AI can substantially reduce a worker’s workload, possibly by up to 40%. This significant reduction in workload can lead to enhanced productivity and work-life balance for employees.

Benefits of Case Summarization

Case Summarization helps organizations realize immediate productivity gains. It simplifies processes and enables employees to focus on solving problems quickly and efficiently.

For instance, Case Summarization utilizes generative AI to meticulously read and filter key information from various domains, including IT, HR, and customer service cases. This process includes analyzing customer or incident details, previous touchpoints, actions taken, and the eventual resolution. Consequently, it efficiently automates the generation of summary notes, which are invaluable for future reference and streamlined operations.

The Take!

The new generative AI capabilities use specialized LLM optimized for the ServiceNow platform. The GenAI models are designed to learn ServiceNow workflows, automation use cases, and processes. They are currently available to a limited number of customers within the Vancouver release.

Stop Accepting Defeat: Rejuvenate Your Digital Transformations Today With Financial and IT Portfolio Management

Posted on August 8, 2024 by - Enterprise Operating Model, Financial Optimization / TBM / FinOps

After so many years working with clients all over the world to establish new ways of working through impactful transformations, we’ve found that many good intentions and strong starts seem to end up with lackluster results or downright failures. 

What amazes us is that companies seem to accept this as standard—the cost of doing business. The best they can hope for. After all, change is hard. And they’re right: “70% of digital transformations fail”, says the oft-quoted statistic. 

But does that mean you have to take it on the chin and give up? 

We’d love to see more companies say NO.

Success is definitely possible. In fact, it’s pretty simple. (Of course, don’t confuse simple with easy—nothing worth achieving is going to be easy.)

It’s time to stop accepting defeat and start winning.

As we’ve expanded our solution set here at Cprime, it’s become clear that one key to running a successful business in the modern era lies in IT Financial Management (ITFM) and Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM). Combined, they’re augmenting and stabilizing agile and digital transformations that never reached their full potential. 

Not that those concepts no longer apply—they’ve just been hard for most companies to fully understand and implement, even with expert guidance and state-of-the-art tooling. But ITFM and SPM—and their related tools and methods—are making a real difference, upping the success rate for our clients.

The stakes are high, and the cost of failure is even higher. But here’s the good news: failure is not a foregone conclusion. With the right approach, tools, and mindset, you can turn things around and set your organization on a path to sustainable success. Let’s dive into how you can stop accepting defeat and start winning in your own digital transformations.

The Harsh Reality — “The Cost of Failure”

Not to belabor the point, but the statistics really are sobering. 

  • A Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey points out that only 41% of companies have an enterprise-wide digital strategy, and a mere 18% rate their use of digital technology as very effective. Have those figures changed in the last 7 years? Not from what we’re seeing.
  • Harvard Business Review recorded that 70% of change initiatives taken up by businesses fail—a figure echoed by McKinsey. Forbes puts the number at 84%. 
  • Furthermore, PWC reports that 45% of leaders believe their company does not have the right technology for digital transformation adoption.

But does it really matter—to the bottom line, specifically?

Yes, it does. 

This isn’t just about bragging rights—who can get it right first. These aren’t nice-to-have functions and capabilities we’re talking about here. These failures have a profound impact on stakeholders. 

Famously, when Hershey’s digital transformation failed, the financial repercussions were enormous, with a 19% decline in quarterly revenues and an 8% drop in stock price. 

And that happened almost 30 years ago. Imagine the cost today, with far more crowded markets, vast globalization, and a host of practical complexities Hershey didn’t even have to consider at the time.

This isn’t an isolated case. Hershey’s experience goes to show the high cost of failure in digital transformation. Unrealistic goals, poor planning, and inadequate execution can lead to catastrophic outcomes, eroding shareholder trust and diminishing customer value. It’s time to face these harsh realities and take decisive action to avoid similar pitfalls.

Common Pitfalls and Missteps — “Why Enterprises Fail”

There are many potential pitfalls. Here are a few of the most common:

  • Misalignment with Business Goals: When IT investments don’t match business objectives, it’s a recipe for disaster. Projects miss the mark, resources get wasted, and stakeholders get frustrated. Align tech with core goals to
    avoid this mess.
  • Lack of Real-Time Data: Making decisions without real-time data is like sailing without a compass. Outdated info leaves you lost. Real-time data is essential for quick, informed decisions. Without it, you’re flying blind.
  • Inefficient Resource Allocation: Poor resource management is a major roadblock. Misallocated resources lead to delays, budget overruns, and failed projects. Allocate smartly to hit critical initiatives and boost success.
  • Inadequate Risk Management: Skipping robust governance and accountability is a disaster waiting to happen. Identify risks, plan for them, and keep projects on track. Without it, you’re vulnerable to stalled progress.

These common pitfalls highlight the importance of a strategic, data-driven, and well-governed approach to financial and portfolio management. By addressing these issues head-on, enterprises can significantly improve their chances of success and avoid the costly mistakes that have plagued so many others.

And the price of complacency? 

  • Wasted Time and Money: This waste not only affects the bottom line but also demoralizes teams and erodes confidence in future projects.
  • Lost Competitive Edge: Failing to successfully transform financial and portfolio management processes leads to loss of market share, and it’s harder than ever to catch up.
  • Stakeholder Dissatisfaction: Shareholders expect returns on their investments, and customers demand seamless, efficient services. When you don’t meet these expectations the whole organization suffers.

Put simply, companies that consistently fail this way can’t maintain leadership in the market. And some may not even survive.

But enough bad news. 

The Path to Rejuvenation — “Reignite Your Transformation Efforts”

Here’s what a focus on ITFM and SPM in the modern organization has provided for Cprime clients—and it can do the same for you.

  • Strategic Alignment: Align IT investments with business goals. Every initiative should hit the mark, maximizing value and cutting waste. Connect tech with strategy, drive progress, and hit those targets.
  • Real-Time Data Utilization: Use tools like Apptio for real-time data. Make swift, accurate decisions. Anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and keep moving forward.
  • Efficient Resource Management: Allocate and prioritize resources intelligently. Avoid delays, budget overruns,
    and poor outcomes. Keep monitoring and adjusting to stay efficient.
  • Robust Risk Management: Implement lean governance to mitigate risks and ensure accountability. Identify risks, develop strategies, and establish clear accountability. Be prepared for any challenge and pursue your goals with
    confidence.

To see these results in action, check out what we did for Citizens Bank and Ahold Delhaize.

By focusing on strategic alignment, real-time data utilization, efficient resource management, and robust risk management, you can reignite your transformation efforts and set your org on a path to sustainable success. 

It’s time to take bold, decisive action and achieve the financial and portfolio management transformations your organization deserves.

Cprime’s Proven Solutions — “Why Cprime is Your Best Bet”

Maybe you’re thinking, “I get it—transformations are tough. So what do I DO about it?”

Well, the best options we’ve found are baked into the ITFM and SPM solutions Cprime experts have honed through practical experience with clients across borders, industries, and circumstances.

Consider the automotive industry, where Cprime has helped companies rev up their Agile transformations. By leveraging our expertise and advanced tools, these companies have overcome significant challenges, achieving remarkable improvements in efficiency, resource management, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Here’s an example.

We invite you to watch a discussion between Zubin Irani, a Cprime boardmember and former CEO, and Konstantine Popov, our Head of Enterprise Technology and Financial Management. In this video, Konstantine discusses how critical it is to align enterprise operating models with new delivery frameworks and the impact of variable infrastructure costs on financial planning. This is valuable context and practical advice.

Expert Consulting: 

Our strategic consulting is tailored to your needs, aligning your efforts with business
goals. We help you craft a clear strategy and objectives, giving you the visibility and alignment you need to
succeed.

  • Visibility and Alignment: Struggling to see the big picture? Our Portfolio Management Solution bridges the gap between different levels of your organization, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards shared goals.
  • Prioritization and Decision-Making: Making the right calls is crucial. We provide techniques to make informed decisions, helping you prioritize initiatives that align with your strategic goals. No more guesswork—just clear, data-driven choices.
  • Resource Management: Efficient resource allocation is key. Our approach includes portfolio planning and progress tracking, ensuring your resources are directed towards the most critical initiatives. Maximize impact, minimize waste.
  • Change Management: Change is hard, but we make it easier. Our methods for managing changes to initiatives help you navigate the complexities of transformation with confidence. Adapt and thrive.
  • Communication and Trust: Collaboration is essential. We emphasize trust and communication between portfolio managers and program/product managers, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. Work together, win together.

Talk to an expert.

Advanced Tools:

We bring together LeanIX and Apptio to give you a unified view of your IT operations and
financial health.

  • Unified IT and Financial View: LeanIX helps you map, visualize, and optimize your IT ecosystem, while Apptio provides the financial insights you need for budgeting and cost optimization.
  • Standardized Reporting: These tools offer standardized reporting across varied IT projects, tackling the reporting challenges many companies face.
  • Robust Governance: Our solution includes robust governance techniques for managing portfolios of business initiatives, ensuring a strong governance framework.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: With accurate, up-to-date data, you can make informed, data-driven decisions.
  • Agility and Responsiveness: Respond dynamically to changing conditions while maintaining strategic alignment. 

Learn more.

Implementation and Support:

We’re with you every step of the way to ensure your transformation efforts are successful and sustainable.

  • Comprehensive Support: From the initial setup to ongoing optimization, we tailor our approach to fit your needs.
  • Apptio Targetprocess: Leverage Apptio Targetprocess to provide visibility and empower data-driven decisions.
  • Custom Implementation: Whether it’s a quick launch or a custom implementation, we ensure minimal disruption and maximum impact. 

Discover our approach.

Don’t let your enterprise continue to waste time, money, and effort. Rejuvenate your digital transformations today by leveraging the latest in IT Financial Management and Strategic Portfolio Management tools and best practices. Your shareholders and customers deserve nothing less. 

It’s time to stop accepting defeat and start achieving the success your organization is capable of. Let’s make it happen together.

Revolutionizing Automotive Digital Transformation: The ETFM Advantage

Posted on July 5, 2024 by - Enterprise Operating Model

Automotive digital transformation FAQs addressed in this article: 

  • What is ETFM in automotive digital transformation? – ETFM (Enterprise Technology & Financial Management) is an approach that integrates technology management and financial management to drive successful digital transformation in automotive companies.
  • What are the key challenges in automotive digital transformation? – Key challenges include cultural resistance, regulatory constraints, product complexity, and supply chain management issues.
  • How does ETFM improve automotive digital transformation? – ETFM enhances strategic alignment, optimizes resource allocation, improves financial visibility, and enables data-driven decision-making in automotive digital transformation efforts.
  • What are the five critical solutions for automotive digital transformation? – The five critical solutions are Strategic Planning, Request & Demand Management, Holistic Financial Management, Delivery Tracking, and Value Realization & Benefits Tracking.
  • How can ETFM reduce costs in automotive digital transformation? – ETFM can reduce costs by improving budget allocation, enhancing spending visibility, and optimizing resource utilization in automotive digital transformation initiatives.
  • What is Apptio TargetProcess in automotive digital transformation? – Apptio TargetProcess is a comprehensive platform that implements ETFM principles to support and enhance automotive digital transformation efforts.
  • How does ETFM improve project delivery in automotive digital transformation? – ETFM can improve project delivery in automotive digital transformation by providing real-time visibility into progress, enabling better resource allocation, and identifying potential risks early.

Alright, let’s dive into the world of automotive digital transformations. If you’re like many industry leaders, you’ve probably embarked on ambitious projects to modernize your operations, only to find the results… well, a bit underwhelming. You’re not alone. The road to digital transformation in the automotive sector is paved with good intentions, but often littered with unexpected potholes and detours.

But here’s the thing: it’s not that digital transformation doesn’t work. It’s that many organizations haven’t gone quite far enough. They’ve adopted agile methodologies, implemented new frameworks, and reshuffled their teams. Yet somehow, that game-changing impact they were promised remains elusive.

Enter Enterprise Technology & Financial Management, or ETFM for short. This It’s not just another buzzword to add to your corporate bingo card. ETFM is the missing piece of the puzzle that can turn your digital transformation efforts from a sputtering engine into a finely-tuned machine.

Think of ETFM as the GPS for your digital journey. It helps you navigate the complex landscape of technology investments, financial decisions, and strategic goals. It’s about seeing the big picture while keeping an eye on the nitty-gritty details. Sounds too good to be true? Well, buckle up, because we’re about to take this concept for a test drive.

The Transformation Tangle: Unraveling Challenges in Automotive Digitalization

Now, let’s get real about the current state of automotive digital transformations. It’s a bit like trying to upgrade a classic car with modern tech – exciting in theory, but often frustrating in practice.

Many automotive companies find themselves stuck in first gear when it comes to digital transformation. They’re grappling with a whole host of challenges that would make even the most seasoned mechanic scratch their head. We’re talking about cultural resistance that’s as stubborn as a rusted bolt, regulatory constraints that feel like a tight parking space, and product complexity that rivals a Rubik’s Cube.

And let’s not forget the supply chain issues. In today’s interconnected world, managing suppliers is like conducting an orchestra where half the musicians are playing remotely. It’s… complicated, to say the least.

The result? Delayed product launches, budget overruns, and a gnawing feeling that all this “agile” and “digital” stuff isn’t quite living up to the hype. It’s enough to make you want to pop the hood and see what’s really going on under there.

But here’s the kicker: the problem isn’t with the concept of digital transformation itself. It’s that many organizations are only scratching the surface. They’ve changed the oil and rotated the tires, so to speak, but they haven’t upgraded the engine. That’s where ETFM comes in, ready to supercharge your transformation efforts and get you firing on all cylinders.

The High-Performance Engine of ETFM: Powering Your Automotive Digital Transformation

Let’s pop the hood and take a closer look at what makes ETFM tick. At its core, ETFM is all about bringing together two crucial elements: technology management and financial management. It’s like combining the precision of a German-engineered engine with the financial acumen of a Wall Street wizard.

On the technology side, we’re talking about overseeing your entire tech infrastructure. It’s not just about keeping the lights on—it’s about ensuring every piece of tech is aligned with your business objectives. Think of it as fine-tuning your entire IT ecosystem for peak performance. The following vital disciplines come into play: 

Now, let’s shift gears to the financial aspect. This is where the rubber really meets the road. ETFM isn’t just about tracking expenses – it’s about strategically managing your tech investments. It’s budgeting with a purpose, forecasting with insight, and making sure every dollar spent is driving your business forward.

But here’s the real magic: ETFM brings these two worlds together in perfect harmony. It’s like having a heads-up display that shows you both your speed and your fuel efficiency at the same time. You get a crystal-clear view of how your tech investments are impacting your bottom line, and vice versa.

This holistic approach is what sets ETFM apart from traditional IT management or financial planning. It’s not just about keeping the machines running or balancing the books – it’s about creating a synergy that propels your entire organization forward. And in today’s fast-paced automotive industry, that kind of integrated insight isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential for staying in the race.

Five Gears of Success: Critical Solutions for Accelerating Your Automotive Digital Transformation

Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s kick it into high gear and explore the five critical solutions that ETFM brings to the table for automotive digital transformation. Think of these as your high-performance upgrades, each designed to give your transformation efforts a serious boost.

  1. First up, we’ve got Strategic Planning. This isn’t your grandfather’s five-year plan. We’re talking about aligning every aspect of your operation – from high-level objectives down to individual tasks – with laser precision. It’s like having a GPS that not only shows you the destination but optimizes every turn along the way.
  2. Next, we’ve got Request and Demand Management. This is your early warning system for new opportunities and challenges. It’s about capturing and evaluating business cases with the efficiency of a pit crew, ensuring you’re always working on the most valuable initiatives.
  3. Then there’s Holistic Financial Management. Forget static spreadsheets and outdated reports. This is real-time, portfolio-level budgeting that gives you a crystal-clear view of your financial landscape. It’s like having a financial dashboard that shows you exactly where every dollar is going – and what it’s achieving.
  4. Fourth on our list is Delivery Tracking. This is your performance monitoring system, keeping tabs on progress across all your value streams. It’s like having a team of expert mechanics constantly checking every part of your engine, spotting potential issues before they become problems.
  5. Last but not least, we have Value Realization and Benefits Tracking. This is where the rubber really meets the road, measuring the actual outcomes of your initiatives. It’s not just about completing projects – it’s about quantifying their impact on your bottom line.

Together, these five solutions form a powerful engine for driving your digital transformation forward. They provide the insights, control, and agility you need to navigate the complex terrain of the modern automotive industry. And the best part? They’re all integrated, working together seamlessly to keep your transformation efforts running at peak performance.

From 0 to 60: Real-World Benefits of ETFM in Automotive Digital Transformation

So, what does all this mean in the real world? Let’s take this baby for a spin and see how ETFM can turbocharge your automotive operations.

Picture this: You’re rolling out a new electric vehicle line. Traditionally, you might have found yourself six months down the road, suddenly realizing you’re behind schedule and over budget. Talk about a sudden stop! But with ETFM, you’re getting real-time updates on your progress, budget, and resource allocation. It’s like having a co-pilot constantly scanning the road ahead for potential hazards.

  • One automotive manufacturer leveraging these principles saw a 20% improvement in project delivery times. That’s like shaving months off your production schedule—a huge competitive advantage in an industry where being first to market can make or break a product launch.
  • But it’s not just about speed. An electric vehicle manufacturer used ETFM concepts to analyze customer feedback and prioritize strategies, resulting in a whopping 40% increase in customer satisfaction. That’s the difference between a car that people like and one they absolutely love.
  • And let’s talk money. One leading automotive company managed to reduce IT costs by 15% through better budget allocation and spending visibility. In an industry where margins can be tighter than a lug nut, that’s a significant boost to the bottom line.

But perhaps the most impressive transformation is in decision-making. With ETFM, you’re no longer driving blind. You have a clear view of your entire operation, from strategic objectives down to individual tasks. This level of visibility allows you to make data-driven decisions quickly and confidently. It’s like upgrading from a rearview mirror to a 360-degree camera system—suddenly, you can see and respond to changes from every angle.

These aren’t just isolated success stories. They represent the kind of transformative impact that ETFM can have across your entire organization. It’s about creating a more agile, efficient, and responsive automotive business that’s ready to take on the challenges of the digital age.

Your Digital Transformation Co-Pilot: Introducing Apptio TargetProcess

Now, you might be wondering how to put all these ETFM principles into practice. That’s where Apptio TargetProcess comes into play. It’s like the high-performance vehicle of the ETFM world, designed to help you navigate the complex terrain of automotive digital transformation with ease.

TargetProcess isn’t just another piece of software to add to your tech stack. It’s a comprehensive platform that brings together all the key elements of ETFM in one sleek package. Think of it as your command center for digital transformation.

With TargetProcess, you can visualize your entire portfolio of work, from strategic initiatives down to individual tasks. It’s like having a real-time map of your entire operation, showing you exactly where you are and where you’re headed.

But it’s not just about visibility. TargetProcess also gives you the tools to optimize your resources, track your financials, and measure your outcomes. It’s like having a team of expert analysts constantly crunching the numbers and providing insights.

One of the most powerful features is the ability to run what-if scenarios. Want to see what would happen if you shifted resources from one project to another? Or what if you increased the budget for a particular initiative? TargetProcess lets you model these scenarios in real-time, giving you the insights you need to make informed decisions.

And here’s the kicker: TargetProcess is designed to integrate with your existing tools and processes. It’s not about ripping out your current systems and starting from scratch. Instead, it’s about enhancing what you already have, providing that crucial layer of visibility and control that can take your digital transformation efforts to the next level.

In essence, TargetProcess is the embodiment of ETFM principles in action. It’s the tool that can help you turn the concept of digital transformation into tangible, measurable results.

Rev Up Your Automotive Digital Transformation: Your Roadmap to Success Awaits

As we cross the finish line of our ETFM tour, it’s clear that the automotive industry is revving up for a new era of digital transformation. But here’s the thing—we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.

Want to see ETFM in action? Curious about how Apptio TargetProcess can turbocharge your digital transformation efforts? We’ve got just the ticket. We’ve prepared an in-depth webinar that takes you under the hood of ETFM and TargetProcess, showing you exactly how these powerful tools can revolutionize your automotive operations.

In this webinar, you’ll get a front-row seat to a live demo of TargetProcess. You’ll see how it can provide real-time visibility into your projects, optimize resource allocation, and align your tech investments with your business goals. It’s your chance to kick the tires, so to speak, and really understand how ETFM can drive your business forward.

Don’t let your digital transformation efforts stall out. Grab the wheel and steer your organization towards success. Watch our webinar on demand now and discover how ETFM and TargetProcess can help you leave the competition in the dust.

Remember, in the race of digital transformation, it’s not just about having the fastest car—it’s about having the smartest driver. ETFM can help you navigate the twists and turns of the digital landscape with confidence and precision.

So, what are you waiting for? The green flag is waving. Click that link, watch the webinar, and get ready to accelerate your automotive digital transformation. Your pole position in the industry of tomorrow starts today!

How to Maximize the Return on Your GitHub Copilot Investment

Posted on July 3, 2024 by - Platform Adoption & Governance

If you’re a software developer, you know the struggle: adapting to ever-changing market conditions, keeping up with new technologies, and responding to customer feedback—all while trying to maintain consistent coding practices. The pressure to innovate and deliver high-quality products quickly can be overwhelming. Bugs, delayed releases, and the grind of manual coding only add to the frustration. It’s a tough landscape, and finding ways to streamline your workflow and boost productivity is more important than ever.

GitHub Copilot has quickly become a standout tool in the industry, offering AI-powered assistance that can transform the way you code. By providing real-time suggestions and automating repetitive tasks, it promises to make your development process faster and more efficient. However, given its premium price, ensuring you get the most out of GitHub Copilot is essential.

Fortunately, a solution exists to that thorny problem. But first, see if you can relate to this:

How GitHub Copilot Addresses Common Development Challenges

GitHub’s AI-powered coding assistant has become the industry standard for a reason. It’s a powerful, sleek solution that addresses the pains modern development teams are experiencing:

  • Adapting to Market Changes: GitHub Copilot provides real-time coding suggestions, helping your team quickly adapt to new technologies and market demands.
  • Reducing Manual Coding: By automating repetitive tasks, GitHub Copilot speeds up development and minimizes the risk of errors, allowing your team to focus on more strategic work.
  • Accelerating Feature Delivery: Streamlined coding processes enable faster delivery of features that provide real customer value.
  • Promoting Consistency: Standardized code suggestions help maintain quality and streamline workflows, reducing inefficiencies and technical debt.
  • Minimizing Bugs: Intelligent code suggestions and early identification of potential issues reduce the incidence of bugs, leading to more stable releases.
  • Fostering Innovation: By handling boilerplate code, GitHub Copilot frees up developers to focus on creative problem-solving and new product development.

With Copilot, you can tackle these challenges head-on, making your development process more efficient, consistent, and innovative. But, that doesn’t mean getting the most out of all the features Copilot offers is simple or easy. 

Which is why expert help can make all the difference.

Introducing Custom, Actionable Support to Get the Most Out of GitHub Copilot

Ensuring you get the most out of your investment in GitHub Copilot is crucial, and Cprime’s CodeBoost™ is here to make that happen. As a GitHub partner, we’re in an optimal position to guide you to the optimal Copilot setup. Here’s how CodeBoost can help you overcome common development challenges and maximize your ROI:

  • Comprehensive Support and Seamless Integration: Adopting GitHub Copilot can be daunting, especially when you’re already dealing with existing challenges. CodeBoost offers comprehensive support to ensure a smooth integration into your workflows. Our experts work closely with your team to address any adoption hurdles, providing tailored training and consultation to fully leverage GitHub Copilot’s capabilities from day one.
  • Overcoming Adoption Challenges: Slow adoption and underutilization of new tools can hinder productivity. CodeBoost provides customized training and enablement, ensuring your developers not only use GitHub Copilot but master it. This seamless integration into daily routines maximizes productivity and efficiency.
  • Enhancing Productivity: GitHub Copilot has the potential to significantly boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks and providing intelligent code suggestions. CodeBoost focuses on optimizing this potential, allowing your developers to concentrate on innovation and solving complex problems.
  • Measuring ROI with Allstacks: Investing in GitHub Copilot is a significant commitment, and seeing a return on that investment is essential. CodeBoost provides the tools and methodologies to accurately measure the ROI of your GitHub Copilot implementation. Using Allstacks, we offer detailed insights into how the tool impacts developer productivity, code quality, and project timelines, ensuring you can quantify the benefits and make informed decisions.
  • Flexible, Secure Infrastructure: CodeBoost offers a range of hosting options, whether cloud-based or non-cloud-based, ensuring seamless integration of GitHub Copilot into your existing infrastructure without compromising security or performance.
  • Quick Roll-Out with Measurable Impact: Time is of the essence in software development. CodeBoost ensures a swift implementation of GitHub Copilot, minimizing downtime. By leveraging Allstacks for ROI evaluation, CodeBoost provides clear, quantifiable metrics demonstrating benefits like increased productivity and improved code quality.
  • Tailored Enablement, Training, and Support: Every development team is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. CodeBoost offers tailored enablement, training, and support to meet the specific needs of your team. Hands-on training sessions and ongoing support ensure your developers are fully equipped to maximize GitHub Copilot’s capabilities.
  • Flexible Packaging Options: Whether you’re a small team or a large enterprise, CodeBoost has flexible packaging options to suit your needs. We offer packages for 10 developers, 100 developers, or even an enterprise-wide rollout. This scalability ensures that you can start small and expand as needed, managing costs and resources effectively.

By addressing these key areas, CodeBoost gives you the best chance at maximizing your investment in GitHub Copilot by helping you overcome common development challenges and achieve your goals more efficiently. As a GitHub solution partner, we’re thrilled to be able to assist all GitHub developers to get the very most out of this exceptional tool.

Impressive Results from Previous CodeBoost Implementations

Implementing CodeBoost has made a world of difference for development teams, addressing key challenges and enhancing overall performance:

  • Efficiency Gains: Automating repetitive tasks and providing intelligent code suggestions has resulted in as much as a 100% increase in developer productivity in as little as ten weeks! 
  • Developer Satisfaction: Reducing the burden of manual coding and streamlining workflows through automation leads to less frustration and higher job satisfaction. This boost in morale can result in higher retention rates and a more motivated team, ready to tackle new challenges.
  • Improved Code Quality: GitHub Copilot’s intelligent suggestions, combined with CodeBoost’s tailored support, help developers catch potential issues early and maintain consistent coding standards. This proactive approach reduces bugs and technical debt, leading to more stable and reliable software releases.
  • Faster Feature Delivery: Optimizing the use of GitHub Copilot streamlines processes and reduces manual tasks, enabling your team to bring new features to market more quickly. This provides real value to your customers and keeps you ahead of the competition.

By leveraging the proven benefits of CodeBoost, you can ensure that your investment in GitHub Copilot translates into tangible results, driving your projects forward with greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Are You Ready to Make the Most of GitHub Copilot?

Maximizing the potential of GitHub Copilot can transform your development process, making it more efficient, innovative, and productive. With GitHub partner Cprime’s CodeBoost solution, you can overcome common challenges and ensure you get the most out of your investment. Ready to take your coding to the next level? Learn more or set up a consultation, and let’s unlock the future of software development together.

Modern Business Demands Modern Ways of Working

Posted on June 21, 2024 by - AI Transformation

Everything Must Change. Including YOU! 

I’ve spent much of my career—which has included five different C-level roles encompassing six different business models—leading and advising businesses on designing new operating systems and engagement models to drive transformation and achieve enterprise Agility. I’ve done this through the adoption of fundamentally different ways of working, thinking, and being. 

Throughout my career, every industry I’ve worked in has faced—and continues to face—technological advances that drive disruption. The pace of change was accelerating, and continues to accelerate. EVERYWHERE.

Let’s pause to think about this. These were the technology innovations of the 1980s.

When Covid hit in March 2020, this further accelerated the evolution of digital business models and the digital transformation of work. Post-pandemic, leadership teams of companies throughout the world began transforming their companies more and faster than ever before!

Today, advances in language-based AI—the underlying technology that powers applications like ChatGPT—are ushering in a new era of disruption at an incomprehensible pace!

Bill Gates had this to say about AI on March 23, 2023. “The development of AI is as fundamental as the creation of the microprocessor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will reorient around it. Businesses will distinguish themselves by how well they use it.” 

The history of AI began long before the technology innovations of the 1980s. Over the course of human history, we’ve been trying to animate objects and give them human-like qualities. But the first person who really pushed the needle was Alan Turing. Turing’s research in the early 1950s laid the foundation for modern computer science. AI was still a thing out of fiction novels at that time, but it was enough to get more brilliant minds on board. In fact, the term, ‘Artificial Intelligence’ was coined in 1956 by John McCarthy, a collaborator of Turing’s.

It’s now June 2024. According to the 7th edition of the AI Index Report, published by Stanford University Human Centered Artificial Intelligence, recognized globally as one of the most credible and authoritative sources for data and insights on artificial intelligence, “AI faces two interrelated futures. First, technology continues to improve and is increasingly used, having major consequences for productivity and employment. It can be put to both good and bad uses. In the second future, the adoption of AI is constrained by the limitations of the technology. Regardless of which future unfolds, governments are increasingly concerned. They are stepping in to encourage the upside, such as funding university R&D and incentivizing private investment. Governments are also aiming to manage the potential downsides, such as impacts on employment, privacy concerns, misinformation, and intellectual property rights.”

The report continues, “Although global private investment in AI decreased for the second consecutive year, investment in generative AI skyrocketed. More Fortune 500 earnings calls mentioned AI than ever before, and new studies show that AI tangibly boosts worker productivity. On the policymaking front, global mentions of AI in legislative proceedings have never been higher. U.S. regulators passed more AI-related regulations in 2023 than ever before. Still, many expressed concerns about AI’s ability to generate deepfakes and impact elections. The public became more aware of AI, and studies suggest that they responded with nervousness.”

The age of AI has begun. Everything from science to business to society itself will be transformed. The positive impact on human creativity and productivity will be massive. As I noted in my TedTalk in 2016, Everything must change. Including YOU!

Today, we live in a world of constant change and no more so than in technology. Accelerated and accelerating rates of technology innovation continue—driving both customers and employees— to continually interact with organizations in new and unique ways.  

Companies will need a strong digital core and investments in people to reap the value of technology innovations such as AI in a responsible way. They will also need to radically rethink how work gets done. The focus must be on evolving operations and operating models and training people as much as possible on AI technology.

Modern Business Demands Modern Ways of Working. 

Modern business demands fundamentally different ways of working, thinking, and being. Modern business demands that we reimagine leadership, management, education, information technology, and agility. Modern business demands that we reimagine everything to outcompete and thrive in the age of AI.

Everything must change. Including YOU.

Unlocking Profitability: Strategic Portfolio Management and Systems Thinking Explained

Posted on June 11, 2024 by - Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)

Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) FAQs addressed in this article:

  • What is systems thinking in software business models? — Systems thinking in software business models involves recognizing that business models are cohesive systems of interrelated choices, ensuring each decision supports the overall system’s effectiveness and efficiency.
  • How does strategic pricing and licensing impact software business models? — Strategic pricing and licensing ensure that the revenue generated from software solutions exceeds the costs, aligning pricing strategies with customer needs and compliance requirements.
  • What are the components of the profit stream pricing model? — The profit stream pricing model includes four components: strategy, structure, specifics, and policies, each playing a vital role in maximizing profit over time.
  • How can integrating Strategic Portfolio Management with Enterprise Architecture Management systems benefit organizations? — Integrating these systems provides a holistic view of investments, resources, and performance, enabling better decision-making and optimization of both top-line and bottom-line performance.
  • What is the importance of visualizing the total cost of ownership (TCO)? — Visualizing TCO helps organizations identify areas where expenses can be reduced and efficiencies gained, contributing to better financial performance and profitability.
  • What are comprehensive performance indicators in Strategic Portfolio Management? — Comprehensive performance indicators include team costs, story point costs, incremental investment vs. revenue over time, customer acquisition costs (CAC), and customer lifetime value (CLV).
  • How can organizations balance innovation and profitability? — Organizations can balance innovation and profitability by investing in different horizons simultaneously: Horizon One for current profit, Horizon Two for market introduction, and Horizon Three for breakthrough innovations.
  • Why is adapting financial metrics important for large enterprises? — Adapting financial metrics to include comprehensive performance indicators provides a more accurate and holistic view of performance, essential for understanding the true value and efficiency of investments.
  • What is the role of Strategic Portfolio Management in achieving sustainable growth? — Strategic portfolio management aligns projects and initiatives with strategic objectives, optimizing resources and investments to drive sustainable growth and long-term success.

Modern enterprises know that, to stay competitive, it’s essential to align customer value, iterative product delivery, and financial performance. It only makes sense: alignment ensures the delivery of superior products and services while simultaneously driving profitability and long-term success. 

But just because it’s logical and simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. 

For executive leaders, understanding and implementing Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) and Enterprise Architecture Management (EAM) are key to navigating this complex environment. We’re going to discuss the core strategies that can help enterprises achieve sustainable growth, focusing on: 

  • Systems thinking in software business models
  • The profit stream pricing model
  • Integrating SPM
  • Adapting financial metrics for comprehensive performance evaluation

This article is drawn from our recent expert discussion, Achieving Sustainable Growth in the Digital Age: Aligning Customer Value, Iterative Product Delivery, and Financial Performance. Click here to watch the full webinar-on-demand any time.

Systems Thinking in Software Business Models

In the realm of Enterprise Architecture Management, systems thinking is a crucial approach for developing sustainable software business models. This perspective emphasizes the interdependence of various choices and components within the business model, ensuring that each decision supports the overall system’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Understanding Systems Thinking

At its core, systems thinking involves recognizing that software business models are not just a collection of isolated decisions but a cohesive system of interrelated choices. 

For instance, decisions regarding licensing, compliance, and data retention are not made in isolation; they must align with the broader business objectives and operational realities. This holistic view helps in creating a robust and adaptable business model that can respond to changing market conditions and regulatory requirements.

Strategic Pricing and Licensing

One of the critical aspects of systems thinking in software business models is the development of strategic pricing and licensing frameworks. Effective pricing strategies are essential to ensure that the revenue generated from software solutions exceeds the costs associated with their development and maintenance. This involves not only setting competitive price points but also structuring licensing agreements that align with customer needs and compliance requirements.

For example, an annual licensing model might be suitable for enterprise software, where the terms of the license are clearly defined, including what happens when the license term ends. Compliance concerns—such as GDPR in Europe or privacy laws in Australia—must also be factored into the technical architecture of the solution. These considerations ensure that the business model remains viable and profitable over time.

By adopting a systems thinking approach, executive leaders can create software business models that are resilient, scalable, and aligned with the strategic goals of the organization. This holistic perspective is essential for driving sustainable growth in the digital age.

The Profit Stream Pricing Model

A well-structured pricing model is fundamental to maximizing profit and ensuring the long-term sustainability of any enterprise. The profit stream pricing model provides a comprehensive framework that encompasses strategy, structure, specifics, and policies, each playing a vital role in the overall pricing strategy.

Strategy

The first component of the profit stream pricing model is strategy, which defines how an organization intends to compete and position its product in the market. This involves determining whether the product will be positioned as a premium offering, like a BMW or Mercedes, or as a cost-conscious option, like a Hyundai or Kia. 

The chosen strategy must align with the company’s broader business objectives and market positioning. A clear and well-defined pricing strategy helps in setting the direction for all subsequent pricing decisions.

Structure

The structure component drives pricing by different segments and solution attributes. This involves identifying the unit of pricing, which could be a user, a company, or a piece of hardware, depending on the product. Additionally, the structure must consider different pricing for various customer segments, such as government organizations, nonprofits, and for-profit entities. 

By segmenting the market and tailoring the pricing structure accordingly, organizations can better meet the diverse needs of their customers and optimize revenue.

Specifics

This component focuses on identifying the actual price levels offered to different customer segments. This includes determining the price points, such as whether a product will be priced at $49 or $99 in the consumer market, or whether an enterprise license will cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. 

The specifics also encompass all the details related to the chosen value exchange model, ensuring that the pricing is competitive and aligned with the perceived value of the product.

Policies

Finally, the policies component establishes the processes and procedures needed to maintain price integrity. This involves managing discounts, renewals, and other pricing pressures that may arise from customers and competition. 

By setting clear policies, organizations can ensure that their pricing remains consistent and fair, even in the face of external pressures.

By integrating these four components—strategy, structure, specifics, and policies—executive leaders can develop a robust profit stream pricing model that maximizes profit over time. This comprehensive approach ensures that pricing decisions are aligned with the overall business strategy and market conditions, driving sustainable growth and profitability.

Connecting the Dots: Integrating Strategic Portfolio Management

For large enterprises, integrating Strategic Portfolio Management with Enterprise Architecture Management systems is essential to achieving sustainable growth. This integration provides a holistic view of the organization’s investments, resources, and performance, enabling better decision-making and optimization of both top-line and bottom-line performance.

Importance of Integration

Strategic Portfolio Management involves aligning an organization’s projects and initiatives with its strategic objectives. By integrating this with Enterprise Architecture Management systems, organizations can ensure that their investments are not only aligned with their strategic goals but also optimized for efficiency and effectiveness. 

This integration helps in visualizing the total cost of ownership (TCO) and profit by product or service, providing a clear picture of the financial impact of each initiative.

Visualizing Total Cost of Ownership

One of the key benefits of integrating SPM with EAM systems is the ability to visualize the total cost of ownership. TCO includes all costs associated with the development, deployment, and maintenance of a product or service. 

By having a comprehensive view of these costs, organizations can identify areas where expenses can be reduced and efficiencies can be gained. This, in turn, contributes to better financial performance and profitability.

Optimizing Performance

Integration also enables organizations to optimize their performance by making informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date data. 

For example, by linking strategic funding with HR systems, organizations can allocate labor and resources more effectively. This ensures that the right teams are working on the right projects, maximizing productivity and minimizing waste. Additionally, by tracking progress against financial forecasts and key performance indicators (KPIs), organizations can quickly identify and address any deviations from their strategic plan.

Organizations that have successfully integrated SPM and EAM have reported better alignment of their projects with strategic goals, more efficient use of resources, and improved financial performance. By having a clear view of their investments and their impact on the bottom line, these organizations can make more informed decisions and drive sustainable growth.

Adapting Financial Metrics for Comprehensive Performance Evaluation

As the world continues to morph around us, traditional financial metrics often fall short in capturing the full scope of an organization’s performance. To gain a comprehensive view, large enterprises must adapt their financial metrics to include more nuanced and relevant indicators. 

This shift is crucial for understanding the true value and efficiency of investments, particularly in the context of Strategic Portfolio Management and Enterprise Architecture Management.

Traditional financial metrics, such as revenue, profit margins, and return on investment (ROI), provide valuable insights but can be limited in scope. These metrics often focus on short-term financial performance and may not fully capture the long-term value and impact of strategic initiatives. 

As organizations transition from a project-based, cost-center model to a more dynamic, fixed-capacity allocation model, it becomes essential to adopt metrics that reflect this new reality.

Comprehensive Performance Indicators

To achieve a more holistic view, organizations should incorporate comprehensive performance indicators that go beyond traditional financial metrics. These indicators can include:

  • Team Costs: Measuring the cost associated with each team, including salaries, benefits, and overheads, provides insights into the efficiency and productivity of different teams.
  • Story Point Costs: By assigning costs to story points (a unit of measure for estimating the effort required to complete a task), organizations can better understand the cost of delivering specific features or functionalities.
  • Incremental Investment vs. Revenue Over Time: Tracking the incremental investment in a product or service against the revenue generated over time helps in assessing the long-term value and profitability of strategic initiatives.
  • Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC): Understanding the cost of acquiring new customers is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of marketing and sales efforts.
  • Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Estimating the total revenue expected from a customer over their entire relationship with the company provides insights into the long-term value of customer relationships.

Balancing Innovation and Profitability

One of the key challenges for large enterprises is balancing innovation and profitability. While innovation is essential for staying competitive, it often involves significant upfront investments and carries inherent risks. To strike this balance, organizations should invest in different horizons simultaneously:

  • Horizon One: Focuses on generating profit from existing products and services. This horizon ensures a steady stream of revenue that can fund future innovations.
  • Horizon Two: Involves introducing new products and services to the market. This horizon bridges the gap between current operations and future innovations.
  • Horizon Three: Concentrates on breakthrough innovations and long-term research and development. This horizon is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and driving future growth.

By maintaining a balanced investment across these horizons, organizations can ensure that they continue to innovate while also maintaining profitability. This approach allows for a steady flow of revenue to support ongoing innovation efforts, even if some initiatives fail.

What’s Next For Your Enterprise?

Achieving sustainable growth in the digital age requires a strategic approach that aligns customer value, iterative product delivery, and financial performance. By adopting systems thinking in software business models, developing a robust profit stream pricing model, integrating Strategic Portfolio Management with Enterprise Architecture Management systems, and adapting financial metrics for comprehensive performance evaluation, executive leaders can drive their organizations towards long-term success.

For a deeper understanding of these strategies and how they can be applied to your organization, we invite you to watch the full webinar on demand. Or, engage with industry experts directly to create a symbiotic tech/finance relationship and accelerate your organization’s success simply by clicking the link below.

From Guesswork to ROI: The Critical Role of Metrics in AI-Driven Development

Posted on June 7, 2024 by - Agile & DevOps, AI-Ready Foundations

Companies across the globe are eagerly experimenting with various AI solutions. Pilots abound, some of them costing millions. Enthusiasm for this shiny new tech is at an all-time high. But there’s a problem: who’s measuring the actual return on investment (ROI) from these AI initiatives? Even after lengthy pilot programs with various AI tools like Github Copilot, many companies are considering expensive rollouts based, essentially, on hype and their teams’ gut feelings.

For savvy executives, that just won’t do.

This leap into AI—which reminds me of the early days of Agile adoption—begs the question: how can businesses assess of value of their AI investments without effective measurement?

The Importance of Metrics in Agile and AI

Without concrete metrics to gauge the improvements and ROI from AI tools, companies are navigating in the dark, making decisions based on hype rather than hard evidence. They’re risking financial resources, and (perhaps more importantly) they could miss out on genuinely transformative opportunities as a result. Without measurement, there is no visibility, and without visibility, there is no way to ensure that investments in AI are sound, strategic, and ultimately successful.

I clearly remember the path many organizations took in past years with Agile methodologies, and today’s rapid push toward integrating AI into software development processes is following the same course. Both require huge paradigm shifts in mindset, experimentation, and, crucially, a commitment to measurement. 

In Agile, metrics like velocity, sprint burndown, and release burnup are great for gauging team performance, project progress, and overall efficiency. You can base decisions on these metrics, adapt strategies, and continuously improve. Based on the same pattern, the successful adoption of AI in software development demands we establish clear, relevant metrics and figure out how to monitor them effectively.

The Challenge of Measuring AI’s Impact

Applied to software development, AI tools can increase productivity, which is little easier to measure. But they can also enhance code quality, reduce the incidence of bugs, and facilitate more innovative solutions by freeing developers from repetitive tasks. These indirect benefits, are harder to quantify and incorporate into an ROI calculation, even though we intrinsically know they’re valuable. So, we don’t only need to measure the immediate impact of AI on development speed and efficiency; we also need to somehow capture its broader contributions to project outcomes and team dynamics.

The Solution: Integrated Measurement with CodeBoost and Allstacks

Organizations need a solution that enhances developer productivity but also integrates seamlessly with tools for comprehensive metrics. That’s the key to navigating the complexities of measuring AI’s impact on software development. 

CodeBoost—our holistic framework, powered by CprimeAI—offers precisely this combination, letting you quantify the ROI of AI investments.

The CodeBoost framework does it all: 

  • Automating repetitive tasks
  • Suggesting code improvements
  • Facilitating faster debugging and code review processes 
  • Powering fast and high-quality user story generation

But there’s more. Beyond GitHub Copilot-style coding assistance, CodeBoost comes with industry-leading implementation and enablement services. It empowers development teams, getting them up and running quickly so you can see quantifiable results in as little as ten weeks. 

We’re talking immediate efficiency gains, as you’d expect. But also improved code quality, and developer satisfaction increases over time. 

But still doesn’t supply concrete measurement to prove all the claims I just made. That’s why the true power of CodeBoost lies in its seamless, baked-in integration with Allstacks. With comprehensive metrics automatically measured and monitored through Allstacks, the sky’s the limit.

Allstacks serves as the analytical backbone. You set a baseline at the start of a CodeBoost implementation, and Allstacks provides ongoing automatic reporting throughout the pilot and beyond. It tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to software development, such as time saved on coding tasks, reduction in bugs or errors, and improvements in project delivery timelines.

This ability is further enhanced by custom reporting capabilities that tailor metrics to your organization’s specific needs and goals. Adoption rate, decrease in time to market for new features, the reduction in technical debt, and more—Allstacks provides the flexibility to focus on the metrics that matter most.

With this integrated approach to measurement, there’s no question about the value of CodeBoost. Developers appreciate a quality tool that makes their lives easier, while executives have clear, data-driven insights into the ROI of their AI investment. 

It’s a win-win scenario.

What’s Your Next Step?

By setting clear metrics from the outset and leveraging ongoing, automatic reporting, you can confidently navigate the complexities of AI adoption, making informed decisions that align with your strategic goals.

We’re excited by the results we’ve already seen just months into the rollout of CodeBoost. If you’d like a custom demo of CodeBoost to see what it can do for you, just respond in the comments or reach out to me personally!

Achieve Greater Alignment with AI-Powered OKRs in Jira Align

Posted on June 5, 2024 by - Agile & DevOps, AI-Ready Foundations

OKRs in Jira Align FAQs addressed in this article:

  • What are OKRs in Jira Align? — OKRs in Jira Align are a framework for setting and measuring objectives and key results, helping organizations align their strategic goals with actionable outcomes.
  • How does AI enhance OKRs in Jira Align? — AI enhances OKRs in Jira Align by providing intelligent insights, real-time tracking, and predictive success analytics, making it easier to set, manage, and achieve strategic objectives.
  • What are the benefits of AI-powered OKRs? — The benefits of AI-powered OKRs include improved strategic alignment, dynamic tracking, predictive success insights, and better decision-making based on real-time data.
  • How can AI help in aligning program-level objectives with company-level objectives? — AI helps align program-level objectives with company-level objectives by analyzing relationships and providing insights to ensure all levels of the organization contribute to overarching strategic goals.
  • What role does AI play in generating well-formed OKRs? — AI suggests objectives and key results based on historical data and existing work, helping organizations set realistic and aligned OKRs that are grounded in actual projects.
  • How do AI-powered OKRs assist in adapting strategies? — AI-powered OKRs provide real-time visibility and predictive insights, enabling organizations to adjust their strategies based on current data and changing business conditions.
  • What future enhancements are planned for AI-powered OKRs in Jira Align? — Future enhancements include value funding, workstream management, advanced predictive analytics, scenario planning, and deeper integration with execution data.
  • Why is real-time tracking important for OKRs? — Real-time tracking is important for OKRs because it allows organizations to monitor progress continuously, identify potential issues early, and make necessary adjustments to stay on track.
  • How can organizations benefit from AI-powered OKRs in Jira Align? — Organizations can benefit from AI-powered OKRs in Jira Align by achieving greater strategic alignment, improving agility, making informed decisions, and driving continuous improvement in goal setting and execution.

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) have become a cornerstone for organizations aiming to align their strategic goals with actionable outcomes. By providing a clear, measurable framework, OKRs enable enterprises to synchronize their long-term vision with day-to-day operations, ensuring that every team and individual is working towards the same objectives. 

However, the journey from setting these objectives to realizing their full potential can be fraught with challenges. This is where the integration of AI with OKR management, particularly through tools like Jira Align, can make a significant difference.

Cprime has developed an AI-powered solution that enhances the capabilities of Jira Align, making it easier for organizations to set, manage, and achieve their OKRs effectively. This innovative approach not only streamlines the OKR process but also provides real-time insights and intelligent recommendations, helping enterprises to stay agile and responsive to changing business conditions.

In this blog post, we will explore how AI-powered OKRs can transform your organization’s approach to goal setting and execution. We will focus on the practical applications of this technology, the future enhancements on the horizon, and how these advancements can help you get the most out of your investment in Jira Align. 

By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of how to leverage AI to unlock your agile future and drive greater strategic alignment across your enterprise.

This article is largely based on our recent expert-led webinar, “AI-Powered OKRs: Unlock your Agile Future with Cprime and Jira Align”. For more information, including a demo of the solution, watch the full webinar-on-demand at your convenience.

Understanding OKRs in Jira Align

Objectives and Key Results serve as a powerful framework for capturing and measuring expected business outcomes. At their core, OKRs consist of two components: objectives, which define the overarching goals, and key results, which provide specific, measurable indicators of success. This structure ensures that everyone in the organization is aligned and working towards the same strategic objectives.

There are numerous benefits of implementing OKRs:

  • They promote transparency by making goals visible across the organization
  • They foster alignment by ensuring that all teams and individuals are moving in the same direction
  • They simplify the goal-setting process with a clear, straightforward approach

However, to fully realize these benefits, it is crucial to adhere to best practices. OKRs should be value-based and specific, focusing on outcomes rather than tasks. They should also be revisited regularly to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with the evolving business landscape. Additionally, aligning OKRs across different levels of the organization, rather than cascading them, helps maintain strategic coherence and ensures that every effort contributes to the overall goals.

With this foundational understanding of OKRs, we can now explore how the integration of AI can enhance their effectiveness and help organizations overcome common challenges in setting, managing, and achieving their objectives.

The Role of AI in Enhancing OKRs in Jira Align

Integrating AI with OKR management, particularly through Jira Align, represents a significant advancement in how organizations can set, manage, and achieve their strategic objectives. AI brings a new level of intelligence and efficiency to the OKR process, providing several key benefits that enhance the overall effectiveness of this framework.

  • Intelligent Insights and Real-Time Tracking: AI-powered OKRs leverage historical data and industry benchmarks to suggest realistic and aligned objectives, ensuring ambitious yet achievable goals.
  • Dynamic Tracking and Predictive Success Insights: AI provides real-time visibility into OKR progress, allowing early identification of issues and enabling strategy adjustments to stay on track.
  • Better Alignment Across the Enterprise: AI analyzes relationships between objectives to ensure program-level goals contribute to overall strategic objectives, maintaining coherence and direction.

With these capabilities (and more!), CprimeAI-powered OKRs in Jira Align provide a robust solution for organizations looking to enhance their goal-setting and execution processes.

Read the white paper, “Misaligned to Mastered: How Cprime’s AI-Powered OKR Solution Amplifies Atlassian’s Jira Align Features” for full details on the new solution.

Practical Applications of AI-Powered OKRs in Jira Align

The integration of AI with OKR management in Jira Align offers several practical applications that can significantly enhance the way organizations set and achieve their strategic goals. Here are three key areas where AI-powered OKRs can make a substantial impact.

Aligning Program-Level Objectives with Company-Level Objectives

One of the most critical challenges in OKR management is ensuring that objectives at different organizational levels are aligned. CprimeAI helps bridge this gap by analyzing the relationships between program-level objectives and company-level goals. 

By providing insights into how these objectives align, AI ensures that every team and department is contributing to the overarching strategic objectives. This alignment is essential for maintaining coherence and ensuring that all efforts are directed towards the same long-term vision.

Generating Well-Formed OKRs

Setting realistic and aligned OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for organizations new to this framework. Our AI solution simplifies this process by suggesting objectives and key results based on existing work and historical data. This capability is particularly useful for organizations looking to reverse-engineer objectives from ongoing projects.

By analyzing the current work defined in the epic backlog, CprimeAI can generate several objectives and their corresponding key results that align with the strategic direction and goals of the company. This not only helps in setting well-formed OKRs but also ensures that they are grounded in the actual work being done, making them more realistic and achievable.

Adapting Strategies Based on Real-Time Insights

AI-powered OKRs provide dynamic tracking and predictive success insights, enabling organizations to adjust their strategies as needed. This real-time visibility into the progress of objectives allows for timely interventions and course corrections, ensuring that the organization remains agile and responsive to changing conditions.

For instance, if the AI identifies that certain key results are not on track to be achieved, it can provide recommendations for adjustments. This proactive approach helps organizations stay aligned with their strategic goals and make informed decisions based on the latest data.

With these practical applications, CprimeAI-powered OKRs in Jira Align offer a powerful tool for enhancing strategic alignment and agility. Importantly, though, it’s not a final solution.

Future Directions and Enhancements

The integration of AI with OKR management in Jira Align is an evolving journey, with several exciting enhancements on the horizon. These future developments aim to further improve decision-making, portfolio management, and overall strategic alignment within organizations.

Value Funding and Workstream Management

One of the key areas of focus is the introduction of value funding and workstream management features. These enhancements will enable organizations to better prioritize their efforts and allocate resources more effectively. By understanding which epics and initiatives provide the most value, organizations can make more informed decisions about where to invest their time and resources.

More Advanced Predictive Analytics and Planning

Additionally, the AI-powered solution will continue to evolve to provide more advanced predictive analytics and scenario planning capabilities. This will allow organizations to forecast the success of their OKRs more accurately and explore different strategies to achieve their goals. 

For example, if certain objectives are identified as having a lower likelihood of success, the AI can offer alternative scenarios and recommendations to improve the chances of achieving those objectives.

Deeper Integration With Execution Data

Another exciting development is the deeper integration with execution data. By seamlessly connecting OKR progress with execution metrics like sprint velocity and release progress, organizations can gain a holistic view of how day-to-day activities contribute to strategic objectives. This integration will enhance alignment and efficiency, ensuring that every effort is directed towards achieving the organization’s long-term vision.

These future enhancements will further solidify the role of AI-powered OKRs in driving strategic alignment and agility. By leveraging these advanced capabilities, organizations can stay ahead of the curve and continuously adapt to the ever-changing business landscape.

Could Your Organization Benefit From AI-Powered OKRs in Jira Align?

The integration of AI with OKR management in Jira Align offers a transformative approach to setting, managing, and achieving strategic objectives. By providing intelligent insights, real-time tracking, and advanced predictive analytics, AI-powered OKRs help organizations unlock their agile future and drive greater strategic alignment. 

Watch the full webinar on demand to gain a comprehensive understanding of AI-powered OKRs. Or, request a personalized demo to see firsthand how Cprime’s AI-optimized OKR solution can amplify Jira Align’s features and enhance your strategic planning processes.

Embracing Agility: Dealing with Mid-PI Feature Changes in SAFe

Posted on May 31, 2024 by - Agile & DevOps

Today I want to tackle a question that comes up all the time in my Implementing SAFe® class: 

“What do I do if someone wants to change a Feature mid Planning Interval (PI)?” 

This is a real-life scenario that we need to know how to handle effectively.

First things first, let’s remember that SAFe is a fractal model. What we do at the Team Level, we also do at the Agile Release Train (ART) Level, although the frequencies may differ. For instance, we have a Team Sync every day at the Team Level, but at the ART Level, we might have a Coaches Sync or an ART sync once or twice a week.

(SAFe® and Scaled Agile Framework® are registered trademarks of Scaled Agile Inc.)

Handling Changes at the Team Level 

Now, let’s consider a situation where someone outside the team wants to change a story within an Iteration, making the Iteration Goal obsolete. According to the Scrum Guide,

 “The Sprint Goal is an objective set for the Sprint that can be met through the implementation of the Product (Scrum) [/ Team (SAFe)] Backlog.” 

[In SAFe we refer to Sprints as Iterations]

Only the Product Owner has the authority to cancel the Iteration before the time-box ends, usually under the influence of Stakeholders, the Development (Scrum) / Agile (SAFe) Team, or the Scrum Master.

An Iteration cancellation should only happen if the Iteration Goal becomes obsolete, which might occur due to a change in company direction or market/technology conditions. However, given the short duration of Iterations, cancellation rarely makes sense. You’d hope that any directional change could be accommodated in the next Iteration, which is never more than 9 days away on a 2-week cycle. Plus, it gives the team time to consider and refine the new work for the next Iteration.

In my years of practicing Scrum, I’ve only canceled ONE Iteration, and that was to demonstrate the transaction cost of canceling an Iteration. 

When an Iteration is canceled, the transaction cost includes:

  •     Reviewing completed and “Done” Backlog items, re-estimating and returning incomplete items to the Team Backlog, 
  •     Holding a retrospective to learn what needs to be done differently so that future iterations don’t suffer the same fate,
  •     Finally, regrouping for another Iteration Planning to plan for the remaining days in the current Iteration.

People often ask me, “Can’t we just swap some stories out?” 

But I believe this sets a dangerous precedent. There’s a two-way commitment: the team works together to deliver the Iteration Goal, and in return, everyone agrees to leave the team alone for the duration of the Iteration to meet that goal. We can’t maintain this commitment if there’s a constant moving feast.

If the team starts conceding to this level of change, it will become the norm, leading to increased uncertainty at Iteration Planning and variability within an Iteration. 

However, it’s important to note that as the team works, they keep the Iteration Goal in mind. They can change the contents of the Iteration Backlog as long as they continue working towards the Iteration Goal. 

This is fundamentally different from someone outside the team changing a story in the Iteration Backlog.

Handling Changes at the ART Level

Now, let’s apply the same principle at the ART Level, where Teams have made a commitment to their PI Objectives. 

“Planning Interval (PI) Objectives are a summary of the business and technical goals that an Agile Team or train intends to achieve in the upcoming PI.”

Most PIs last 8 to 12 weeks, so variability within a PI is more common. However, canceling a PI because the  PI objectives are obsolete has a much higher transaction cost, like re-convening a 2-day PI Planning event for 5 to 12 teams!

Therefore, our first line of defense is to ask, “Can this wait until the next PI?” 

Depending on the PI length, we might only be a few weeks away from the next one, giving Product Management time to explore, refine, prioritize, and socialize the Feature(s) for the next PI. In most cases, this is a real option after reminding the company of the two-way commitment!

However, if the company changes direction or market/technology conditions change and continuing with the existing work doesn’t make sense, personally, I have swapped out a feature for a new one. 

But be aware, this is fraught with danger! 

We’ve just spent two days with the Teams PI Planning, collaboratively understanding dependencies and gaining alignment. We’ve created an ART Planning Board that visualizes these dependencies, so pulling out one feature and plugging in a new one is not that easy! It requires a significant level of impact analysis.

Dean Leffingwell, the creator of the SAFe Framework, advises that if you have too much variability in your work, you need a shorter batch size. Instead of a 12-week PI, consider a 10-week or even an 8-week PI. Yes, there’s a higher transaction cost for PI Planning, but as with all things, it’s a trade-off.

Alternatively, you can reserve more capacity within the PI and the teams for ‘unknown, unknown’ work – the things we don’t know we don’t know!

I hope this helps clarify how to handle mid-PI Feature changes. If you’re interested in learning more about SAFe, join one of our classes.

Happy SAFe journey, everyone!