Complexity of the technological complexity? - Platform strategy can help

Intro

Many businesses today are entangled with multiple technologies & software systems within their organization that creates silos across departments & conflicts among them. This results in a nightmare for businesses & technology owners where the best staff is utilized in firefighting & keeping the systems up & running.

The same systems which were supposed to increase efficiency and create a competitive edge for the business, have instead become blockers of innovation that create a lot of inefficiencies for the organization.

The creator itself has become the destroyer. This is where the platform strategy comes to the rescue.

What is platform strategy?

First of all, a platform is a collection of technologies, systems & interactions which accelerate the enterprise’s ability to deliver value to its clients.

Platform strategy defines the short term and long-term actions & binding concepts in developing and maintaining the technology platform(s) of the organization in driving the technology-driven innovation.

How platform strategy can help

Platform strategy addresses the problem of technology & system entanglement with the holistic view of business innovation & speed. It looks to disentangle technology complexity by identifying the key business drivers from where the technology drivers will be derived.

The technology drivers will be used to assess each and every system in use and the connectedness between the systems.

Further platform strategy looks to understand current and future demands and the current problems of technology, which can be plenty. Platform strategy uses a 5-7 component framework in guiding the assessments and considerations of future and current needs. 

Major components of the framework include;

1. Framework to connect systems
2. Mobile first approach
3. Application delivery infrastructure
4. Self service data & front-facing technologies
5. Software adaptation framework 

Transforming the organization towards an IT innovator

One of the most common questions and concerns from business owners or executives, regarding IT systems and transforming the organization towards IT-driven innovation, is that they do not want to re-invest in systems that they invested in 3 years ago. They tend to look at the money spent on technology & systems as a cost rather than an investment.

Therefore, one of the important aspects of the platform strategy is to look to re-use the current technology & system assets via organizational APIs.

In general, the transformation of technology & systems using the platform strategy can mean that some of the systems will be re-used, some systems could be re-engineered, some systems would be re-designed & some systems should be replaced.

Summary

The journey of technology from being a support service to an innovator has been rapid and expansive. This journey though can turn on its head unless carefully planned and executed.

The platform strategy is used in guiding the organization and avoiding the traps of technology transformation saving quite a lot of money, time, and frustration. 

 ThoughtWorks has taken the lead in defining & popularizing platform thinking & strategy