| | July 20169CIOReviewData connectivity between applications and the information it generates is beyond Big Data and Smart Algorithms. The next big wave in IT will be information received from connected systemsAs Electric Vehicle (EV), Photo Voltaic (PV), solar, and other sustainable options enter the market, the connectivity between electrons and digital applications will further increase.Nearly four years ago, OUC's IT department, embarked upon on a major technological journey. We aspired to achieve a seamless connectivity within all of our applications and thus, provide more options and information to our customers and employees who need the applications. This effort aligned with our four strategic initiatives--1) maintain competitive electric and water rates, 2) optimize quality customer experience, 3) improve organizational effectiveness, and 4) sustainable use of electric and water resources. Many of these initiatives have technology at their core. Many can be improved by better communications, better metrics, higher efficiencies, and effective processes. Connecting the underlying applications was center to the technological journey. The challenge for us was how to plan, design, build, test, and deploy all the applications so that they were connected and information output from one could be used as input for the next application. We developed an organization that could blend all the "people" issues with all the "connectivity" issues. The former is led by our PMO, the latter by our Design Authority. We deliberately set out to make the PMs and not the PMO responsible for project delivery. This in itself is novel. Nearly every PMO organization I know, the PMO struggles because they are not only responsible for the management, but for leading the project. The director of project delivery should direct the PMs (often special expertise contractors) who in turn lead the assigned project. Essentially the following model was adopted for OUC's Project Delivery Organization.Beyond Big Data and Smart AlgorithmsAt a major IT conference a year ago, everyone was talking about Big Data. More recently, another major IT conference talked about the promise of Cloud applications. I understand the need for making use of big data, and I understand the need to adopt cloud applications if they are fast and cheap. Therein lies a paradox, how does one make sense of all the big data on systems that are not connected to each other, because they lie in the cloud? These two topics are almost at odds with each other. By virtue of placing your data with another entity, and off-siting your applications with separate entities almost guarantees that applications won't talk with each other, and Big Data will be small.Interconnectivity--The KeyOur company's vision is to Be Recognized as the Best Utility [Company] in the Nation. Our IT department is but one cog in the wheel. We are just one business unit of many that can make this happen. Surely, with connectivity that brings Big Data together, from one system to the other, we can truly bring our Smart Grid and our Vision to be one that is leveraged by interconnectivity. When this is realized, our Smart Grid can be more intelligent, and will become a smarter grid. Project Delivery DirectorPMO Design Authority (DA) PMs PMs PMs PMs PMs PMs A Major Project Delivery Organiza on Focused on People and management for cost, quality, schedule Focused on Things and connecvity between systems Focused on Delivery and Leads the PMs, PMO, and DA Focused on Delivery And working with the PMO and DA Jerry Sullivan
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