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Deloitte TechTrends 2018: The Symphonic Enterprise Summary

Core Content

The 2018 Deloitte TechTrends report introduces the concept of the "symphonic enterprise", which emphasizes the integration and collaboration of disruptive technologies across domains to achieve greater strategic and operational value. This approach moves away from traditional, siloed thinking and encourages a more holistic view of technology's role in business transformation.

The report highlights the evolving role of IT, which is no longer confined to back-office functions but is becoming a central driver of innovation and growth. CIOs are under increasing pressure to adapt to new technologies such as blockchain, cognitive computing, and digital reality, which are reshaping business models and processes.

Main Points

• The Symphonic Enterprise: A model where strategy, technology, and operations work together in harmony across domains and boundaries. This contrasts with the traditional vertical and horizontal views of the enterprise, offering a new "diagonal" perspective that unlocks new business opportunities and problem-solving methods.

• Reengineering Technology: This is a key theme, focusing on transforming IT from a reactive, siloed function to a proactive, integrated engine for business growth. The reengineering effort includes both top-down and bottom-up approaches.

Top-Down Reengineering

• New Operating Models: CIOs are expected to reorganize teams, break down silos, and build multi-skill, results-oriented teams that can deliver outcomes rather than just completing tasks.

• Budgeting for Outcomes: IT budgets are shifting from task-based allocation to outcome-driven planning. This allows for greater flexibility and alignment with strategic goals.

• Portfolio Management: CIOs are adopting a 70/20/10 allocation model for project portfolios, with 70% focused on core systems, 20% on adjacent opportunities, and 10% on emerging or unproven technologies.

• Leadership and Vision: IT leaders are expected to guide and inspire, acting as both a "shaman" and a "sherpa" to help business leaders understand and implement technology strategies.

Bottom-Up Reengineering

• Automation and Efficiency: Automation is becoming central to IT operations, with a focus on reducing manual, repetitive tasks. Technologies like robotic process automation (RPA), cognitive automation, and autonomic platforms are enabling this shift.

• Technical Debt Management: Organizations must address technical debt by quantifying and managing it, moving away from just monitoring to actively reducing it through re-platforming and modernization.

• Modernized Infrastructure: The report advocates for a cloud-first, flexible infrastructure model that allows for dynamic resource allocation and reuse. This model supports faster development and deployment cycles.

Key Technologies and Trends

• Digital Reality: This trend shifts the focus from technology to opportunity, enabling new ways of interaction between people and data, and breaking down geographic and systemic barriers.

• Blockchain: The report discusses the potential for blockchain to become a foundational protocol for trust across the enterprise and beyond.

• API Imperative: APIs are evolving from an IT concern to a business mandate, enabling better integration and innovation across functions.

• Exponential Technologies: These include emerging innovations that are poised to have a significant impact on the business landscape in the near future.

Case Study: Sysco

Sysco, a leading food marketing and distribution company, serves as a case study in reengineering. The company initially implemented a new ERP system to standardize processes and modernize operations. However, it failed to deliver expected benefits. In response, Sysco reevaluated its approach, focusing on modernizing legacy systems and leveraging new technologies like cloud, microservices, and autonomic platforms to create more agile and customer-focused solutions.

Conclusion

The Deloitte TechTrends 2018 report underscores the need for a symphonic approach to technology, where different technologies and functions work together to drive innovation and business value. It calls for CIOs to reengineer not just their IT departments but their entire technology strategies, embracing both top-down and bottom-up transformations to build high-performance, outcome-driven IT ecosystems.

Authors

• Bill Briggs
  Chief Technology Officer, Deloitte Consulting LLP
  Email: wbriggs@deloitte.com
  Twitter: @wdbthree

• Craig Hodgetts
  US National Managing Principal – Technology, Deloitte Consulting LLP
  Email: chodgetts@deloitte.com
  Twitter: @craig_hodgetts

Authors' Notes

The report also addresses common misconceptions about reengineering, including the belief that technology is always complex and that distributed architecture reduces efficiency. It argues that reengineering can lead to more effective and flexible systems, and that breaking down silos can actually enhance organizational performance and value creation.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Reengineering is not just about adopting new tools, but about challenging assumptions and rethinking how technology is delivered and used.
• Automation is a critical enabler, reducing manual effort and improving operational efficiency.
• Technical debt must be actively managed to support innovation and avoid being locked into outdated systems.
• Cloud-first infrastructure and outcome-based budgeting are key to building agile, high-performing IT environments.
• The symphonic enterprise represents a new paradigm where technology and business work in harmony, unlocking new opportunities and value.

Final Thoughts

Deloitte's TechTrends 2018 report encourages organizations to move beyond traditional, domain-specific approaches and embrace a more integrated, collaborative model of technology. This shift is essential for staying competitive in an era of rapid digital transformation and technological disruption.