- Is Utility Computing Right for You?
- Short-Term Benefits
- Pay-for-Use Pricing
- Business Demand
- Utility Implementation Guidelines
- Conclusion
Utility Implementation Guidelines
Let's assume that your organization has decided to look seriously at utility computing, with a specific solution in which utility computing could be applied. A utility computing project team is assembled. One of the first tasks for the team is to review a number of guideline decisions. As with any new technology implementation, utility computing comes with associated decisions for successfor this example, in three specific areas: technical, financial, and managerial issues. The utility computing team should address at least the following questions (and more, if needed).
Technical
Does the technology you need currently exist?
Does it work for your environment?
Has it been tested in prototype version? (Make potential vendors offer technology proofs that fit your model, or work with them to validate a model for your organization.)
Are the test results satisfactory?
Are there any alternative technologies?
Is your organization (business and IT) mature enough to execute this project?
How will this project affect IT complexity? Will it make things better or worse?
Financial
How will the new systems handle chargeback to users? Will this change?
What are your top priorities, both short term and long term, to improve your organization's financial standing?
Is senior management willing and prepared to support such a project?
Do you already have support and involvement from key stakeholders?
Is there a detailed return on investment or defined business case for the project that proves its value?
Managerial
Are the critical success factors defined, accepted, and understood?
Do you have enough people? Are they the right people with the right skills?
What pressures on expected savings, budgets, and costs need to be addressed?
These are just a sample of the more common issues that need to be addressed or reviewed regularly throughout the project until successful implementation, rollout, and handover to production status.