- Introduction: The Three-Dimensional Framework of IT
- Basic Approach
- The Mozart Unification Framework
- Harris Kern's Enterprise Computing Institute
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The Mozart Unification Framework
NOTE
Mozart Unification Framework™ is a trademarked name.
The Mozart Unification Framework is a systematic way to bring discipline and structure to the classic problem of "business/IT disconnect." The three dimensional framework aligns behaviors, processes, and technologies along value streams to connect key elements of IT, services, and business to desired outcomes—in essence, to "connect the dots" (see Figure 1).
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Figure 1 The three dimensions of the Mozart Unification Framework.
Business Charter Dimension
In the Business Charter Dimension, we identify, quantify, and understand the business and desired outcomes such as business growth and cost reduction. These outcomes drive services and information technology, answering the question, "How does the business define and create value for itself?" The creation of business value is the key driver for both the Service Execution and Information Technology Dimensions of the framework.
The Business Charter Dimension begins with an examination of the external environment—customers, markets, trends, and regulatory environment—to establish a context for the business. Next, the business itself is decomposed into its constituent parts, such as mission, business model, key business objectives, strategies, plans, opportunities, and threats. These elements form the basis for the underlying business processes (how the work will get done), technology environment (the tools that will be used), and business organization (who will do the work).
Service Execution Dimension
In the Service Execution Dimension, we examine the services that must be delivered to support desired business outcomes:
Services to customers (products and services)
Internal enabling and supporting services (IT services)
Services that must be delivered into the business (services provided to the business by its partners and suppliers)
These types of services are the key linkage between the business, its customers, and information technology.
The Service Execution Dimension revolves around key management processes that create, develop, and enhance customer relationships in order to maximize customer and business value. In this regard, the Service Execution Dimension is concerned with understanding customer value and identifying the correlations between that customer, its business, and the desired outcomes. Another important aspect of the Service Execution Dimension is information. It's concerned with the optimal utilization of information to maximize customer and business value.
The Service Execution Dimension defines the services provided by the enterprise to its customers as well as the services required by IT to support the business. Both service delivery channels are required to ensure the proper linkage between IT, the business, and its customers.
Information Technology Dimension
The Information Technology Dimension focuses on building and managing IT infrastructures that enable people to support and drive the business. Focusing on architecting, implementing, and managing IT resources, the goal is to optimize the ability of the business to use information to create business value.
Supporting the optimal utilization of information, the Information Technology Dimension of the Mozart Unification Framework is concerned with the underlying IT infrastructure. It ensures that all aspects of the IT infrastructure are assessed, built, and managed in a comprehensive and logical manner. The Information Technology Dimension ensures that technologies, policies, processes, organizational structures, and people are well planned, well deployed, integrated, and systematically evaluated for improvement.
The Fourth Facet: Best Practices
Each dimension is further divided into domains that address the key elements of organization, process, and technology (see Figure 2). The constituent parts of each element are governed by best practices, standards, and methods (Six Sigma, TQM, ITIL, IEEE, and ISO, among others).
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Figure 2 Best practices, standards, and methods govern the three
dimensions of the Mozart Unification Framework.
With the rigorous application of best practices, you can bring into play and leverage the disciplines that form the cornerstone of the business, service ,and IT infrastructures. By disciplines we mean well-defined and well-managed organization structures; technology architectures; and, most importantly, processes such as change management, production acceptance, and performance management. In essence, the Mozart Unification Framework is a comprehensive and integrated way to build and manage disciplines across the three dimensions through best practices.
Moreover, the Mozart Unification Framework doesn't depend on specific standards and methods. Being flexible and adaptable, it can accommodate different types of best practices, allowing it to evolve over time and adapt to changes in business, customers, services, and technology. The Mozart Unification Framework provides a systematic approach to assess, build, and manage the linkages between business, services, and information technology. It's a way to manage behaviors, processes, and technologies to achieve desired business outcomes.
This article provided an overview of the Mozart Unification Framework. Following articles will break down the three dimensions, describing their domains and key elements. We'll also describe how the Mozart Unification Framework addresses the challenges surrounding IT executives and enables them to drive the business.