Business Transformation Requires Transformational Leaders

Barry Devlin takes us on a journey to help us understand how context plays a big role in using data. Known for creating the first data warehouse architecture, he proposed a new standard for data architecture for today’s world in 2013. Devlin puts context-setting information at the heart of all data architectures, and for good reason. In the drive to digitize more business processes, the intricacies of how all stakeholders inter­act with data have been underexposed. Though it is understandable that getting a grip on technology and reorganizing your business is hard enough, it is precisely this interaction that will determine your success. If you turn your perspective around, as he argues, your data architecture will be of more value.

With Industry 4.0, there is constant change in everything from business models to technology platforms to hype and social trends. Keeping up, let alone getting ahead, requires experimentation and constant reinvention. To support that, organizations need a steady supply of engineers in an ever-growing field of products, protocols, and platforms — and there simply aren’t enough to keep up.

Working with blockchain over the past few years has made me realize the broad possibilities of distributed networks. Certainly, one could say that blockchain is “just” a distributed database; however, emerging adoption reinforces the potential underneath. There are myriad ways to adopt this technology, including in transferring funds, managing supply chains, handling tax evasion, and performing targeted analyses of data already recorded on the blockchain.

A capability architecture defines what we are and do at any given time, whereas process, information, platform, and other architectures describe how we accomplish what we are or perform what we do at any given time. As we improve or mature, what we do and/or how we do it changes over time, meaning that both our capabilities and the enabling architectures evolve.

Tim Virtue focuses on the most significant risks of BaaS. He identifies common BaaS risks and proposes mitigation strategies for all of them. Virtue stresses that adoption of innovative business models is essential for new market entrants. In the build-versus-buy debate, he favors buy, although stresses that the BaaS provider should be a trusted partner, not simply a commodity supplier. Despite the significant risks involved in digital trans­formation adoption, doing nothing is the greatest risk of all. 

Magesh Kasthuri discusses how city administration can use blockchain. He provides various insights into decentralized architecture, including its technology benefits and security implementation. The article highlights a need for self-healing and auto-scaling services within a smart city architecture, which can be achieved by a blockchain network based on HyperLedger Fabric in a cloud environment. Blockchain can make cities more efficient and more resilient and adds greater transparency and security to a city’s digital processes. Applying DLT technologies in smart cities is an opportunity to reshape many aspects of how cities are organized and managed in order to better serve their citizens.

This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal (CBTJ) continues the conversation we began in our last CBTJ and focuses on blockchain technology adoption beyond cryptocurrencies and financial services. The authors explore areas such as energy and utilities and government and present real examples of successful DLT implementations. They share their practical experiences in overcoming and addressing some of the known issues with blockchain projects.

As has been our tradition for the last several years, we’ve compiled the five most intriguing articles published by the Business Agility & Software Engineering Excellence practice for today’s Advisor. How did we come up with this list? We chose the articles that garnered the most feedback from Cutter Members. Your questions and comments not only make it possible to create lists like this, they help focus Cutter’s Senior Consultants’ research on the areas that are most important to organizations like yours. So please keep your feedback coming.