Information - Process Silos - The Bane of the Enterprise

o Profit Centric Motives Beget the Need for New or Changed Process...

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o Process is created or changed through Project(s)...

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o Project(s) view Information from the perspective of the Process Need...

o Project(s) cause Information to be defined and structured to satisfy Process...

o The result... MORE INFORMATION/PROCESS SILOS

Information/Process Silos are outcomes of defining and structuring Information as a Necessity for Process rather than as a Value Enabler for the Enterprise.

In any business, there are literally thousands of Information/Process Silos. The bigger the business, the more Information/Process Silos there will be. Today, finding the linkages, relationships and implications within and between Information Silos, thereby enabling informed decision making, is extremely time consuming, prone to error and full of real as well as implied risk.

Each and every Silo is a barrier that prevents seamless, cohesive use of information across the enterprise. As the number of Silos increases, so do the problems of being able to gather information from multiple, disparate silos.

Silos might contain highly structured data accessible only through Process specific pre-defined screens and reports; therefore absent enterprise context and value.

Silos might be template driven files and folders scattered across the enterprise - mobile sales forces, branch offices and similar distributed business functions rely heavily on non-corporate wide information to manage their responsibilities, every instance of such distributed files might a unique Silo (depending in the information inside) or part of a scattered, virtual Silo held together (just!) by virtue of organizational structure rather than seamless, cohesive information linkages.

Silos might be totally unstructured. This means that there is no standard by which information is captured and stored. The only standard might be the software that facilitates information capture. E.g. How I set up my excel spreadsheet rows and columns and sheets is not like yours, or his or hers...

Microsoft Office has a neat piece of Software called OneNote, it provides users with a quick way to capture information but the information goes nowhere else and, perhaps it shouldn't. Then again, perhaps, it should. Mobile computing again provides a useful example; how often does useful to the enterprise information make an appearance on Blackberry screens? Which then begs the question - does that information percolate 'upward' into an enterprise information repository that is accessible by more than the Blackberry user who received the information? A whole series of troubling questions emanate from both Yes and No answers, too detailed to list here but I am sure you start to understand the implications and linkages between mobile devices and Silos.

To recap; the more lines of business there are - more Silos. The more products there are - more Silos. The more segmented the customer base - more Silos. Silo proliferation, without doubt, causes the enterprise to be data rich and information poor.

Simply put; businesses cannot quickly, efficiently and cost effectively access, gather, layer, filter, consolidate and analyze information in varying formats from multiple Silos.

Beyond the inability of the enterprise to find and use information lies the danger that any failure to deliver information when required by external stakeholders (customers (current and prospective), suppliers, investors, etc.) is seen by these important parties as the enterprise having serious internal operational issues.

In today's virtual world, stakeholders outside of the enterprise expect, request and require that the right information, in the right context be provided to them when they ask and provided to them immediately. Anything less is a black mark against the enterprise.

The Process side of the Silo effect brings another serious risk dimension into view. Silos are built-in impediments that limit what the enterprise can do to quickly and simply improve the business.

Information/Process Silos are designed and built to serve a Process Need; when one looks to combine, streamline, consolidate or reengineer more than one Process, innumerable obstacles bubble to the surface.

These obstacles take the form of gaps and disconnects that are only apparent when the Silo is to be changed. Filling the gaps and fixing disconnects quickly renders what looked to be a quick, relatively inexpensive improvement to the business into a Pandora's Box of costly surprises.

Given the vast number of Information/Process Silos that are in operation today and the likelihood of many more being created in the future - you could end up spending a fortune redesigning current systems, processes and data repositories to make information readily and cost effectively available across lines of business, between product families and spanning customer segments.

You could spend even more removing the barriers that currently impede quick and efficient streamlining of the business.

In both cases, whatever you spend, the value would quickly diminish as new Silos are deployed into the enterprise to address future needs for new or improved processes.

Addressing these issues requires a different approach; one that adroitly constrains future Information/Process Silo proliferation while enabling the enterprise to deftly cut through current Information/Process Silo barriers...

You do not need to spend a fortune; you just need to explore with us how we could help you bring clarity and cohesion to the convoluted world of unconstrained Information/Process Silos.

Information - Process Silos - The Bane of the Enterprise

If you would like to learn more about the seminar themes I speak to, types of consulting engagements and research that underpins my thinking, feel free to browse my web presence at http://www.TLIRGroup.com

John Bolden
RMA, Mil C, C/MBB-ISSSP. F-IICM, F-IPMS

Transformation Leadership, Innovation & Research
http://www.TLIRGroup.com

John Bolden is renowned for value laden advice that stakeholders depend on when assessing the wisdom of investing billions. John's views and observations enable corporate leaders to ask the right questions, probe problematic answers and avoid surprises.

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Enterprise Network Assessment - Improving the Network Design Process

Overview

enterprise wireless access point

A network assessment is conducted after having finished the business and design requirements of the company. A network assessment provides a quick snapshot of the current network with an examination of the infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. That information is utilized for making effective strategy recommendations and design proposals to the client concerning specific information systems modifications before implementing wireless network equipment.

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Network Assessment Components

The current network is examined using 5 primary surveys: infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. When the surveys are completed, the information collected is then reviewed for trends, problems and issues that are negatively affecting the network. The surveys are reviewed and compared with best practices, business requirements and design requirements. The results from the analysis are then utilized to develop specific recommendations that focus on design, equipment configuration, security and network management strategy improvements. As well the information is used to support the design process.

Specific Assessments

The assessment model describes all 5 assessments types defined with the network assessment. It starts with an infrastructure assessment, which is comprised of a corporate structure interview and a survey of the specific enterprise and office components. The corporate structure interview reviews current locations, number of users and office types. The enterprise survey examines common elements such as circuit maps, routing protocol design and Windows ADS. The office components survey examines campus, WAN, applications, and facilities for access, distribution and core offices.

When the infrastructure survey is finished, we then move on with a performance assessment, which identifies the types of traffic currently running on the network and current average and peak traffic loads. The network is tested at various campus and WAN segments for response time, utilization levels and errors. With that finished we focus on a network availability assessment. That is a survey of diversity, design, configuration and facilities to determine if they address the availability requirements of the company.

The management assessment reviews the current strategy being used to manage enterprise devices and servers. It is a review of seven primary management groups, applications, configuration and IOS services. Finally the security assessment examines perimeter, network, transaction and monitoring security, protocols and processes.

Infrastructure Assessment

Results from the current infrastructure assessment should be analyzed to determine potential issues with the current infrastructure. Equipment information, application types, IOS versions, topologies and circuits could affect design and implementation.

Performance Assessment

The performance assessment identifies any problems with specific campus and WAN segments, devices, servers and enterprise circuits. Traffic analysis should focus on over-utilization issues and errors with those components. The following is a list that describes some typical causes of network performance problems.

• Equipment and Circuit Provisioning

• Network Device Configuration

• Application Configuration

• Application Model

• Enterprise Design Problems

Availability Assessment

The various components that affect network availability are considered since it is a key requirement of many information technologies strategies. Problems with the surveyed groups are identified and the effect that has on company revenues.

Management Assessment

Problems with the current network management strategy are identified and how that is affecting current network operations. The current network management strategy will determine what additional processes, applications and events will be required to manage any new implementations. Network availability is affected a lot by the current network management strategy.

Security Assessment

The developing of a security policy and strategy is important to protecting company assets. The company security strategy is considered and problems identified that would affect company operations.

Assessment Analysis

When the network assessment has been completed, the information collected is then reviewed for trends, problems and issues that are having a negative affect on the network. All five assessment groups are reviewed and compared with best practices, business requirements and design requirements. The results are utilized to make recommendations and support the design process.

Recommendations

With a detailed analysis of the primary assessment groups completed, it is the focus of this phase to make recommendations that address the problems identified. The recommendations should address problems from all groups and consider best practices, business requirements and design requirements. The recommendations are considered when building the infrastructure, security and network management strategy.

Copyright 2007 Shaun Hummel All Rights Reserved

Enterprise Network Assessment - Improving the Network Design Process

Shaun Hummel is the author of Network Planning and Design Guide and http://www.CiscoDesignBooks.com featuring Networking Books, eBooks, Certifications, Articles and Design Tools.

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Rental Car Accident - The Process and Your Rights

Getting into a rental car accident could be frustrating.
Usually you are in a city that you do not know, a state with laws that you are
not familiar with, and you are driving someone else's car. This is a formula
that can give you a big headache. So here is an overview of how rental car
accident claims get handled and settled.

enterprise rental car

When you rent a vehicle, the rental company will ask you
for your proof of insurance. Many of them will ask for your
Declarations Page. They want to see what coverages you have. They will be
looking for liability, collision, and comprehensive, in your policy.
Liability is because it is required by law, but collision and comprehensive will
protect the car you will be driving. 99% of the companies out there will extent
coverage to the rental car and the rental company knows that.

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Rental companies will want to know how much your
deductible is. Your deductible is the portion of the loss that you are "self
insuring". For example, if the damage to the car is ,000 and your deductible
is 0, then the insurance company will only pay ,500 (00 - 0
deductible); you will have to pay the 0 out of pocket. Many rental companies
will require that your deductible be less than 0 or you will have to buy
extra insurance at the time of renting the vehicle.

When you rent the car, then rental agent will ask you if
you want extra insurance. Three things can happen: you decline all together, you
buy extra insurance, or you buy a collision damage waiver. Depending on which
option you select, the rental car accident will be handled differently by your
insurance company.

First, if you decline all together, then you better have
an active policy that will provide first party coverage for the rental car. Your
insurance company will be responsible for paying the rental company for the
rental car, but those payments will be subject to all the terms of your policy.
What this means is that your deductible will apply and you will have to pay that
to the rental company up front. It does not matter that you were not at fault
for the accident; the rental car company is entitled to get the car fixed as
soon as possible. Your insurance company will be responsible for going after the
responsible party

The restrictions of your policy can cause several
problems. Mainly it will be on the loss of use,

click here to learn more about the LOU in a rental car accident. If you do
not carry rental coverage on your policy, you will owe the rental expenses to
the rental company as if they had to rent a car. If the vehicle will take five
days to repair, then you will owe the five days rental. Also, if you do carry
loss of use coverage (rental car coverage) in your policy, but the limit is
below what the rental car would rent for, then you would owe the difference. For
example, your rental coverage is per day, but the rental car cost is per
day, you will owe the difference between the two.

Second, you buy "extra" insurance. This is where things
can get a little complicated. The insurance adjuster must look at actual policy
that you bought (not given to you when you sign). The terms of that policy will
determine how the accident will be handled. Some rental insurance coverages
provide complete coverage any rental car accident as long as you pay the
premium. They would cover the car that you hit (if you are at fault), and the
rental car damage. You could still have a deductible. Your insurance company
usually will step in as a secondary form of coverage in case the rental car
insurance policy limits are low. However, you need to read both insurance
polices together to see which one would pay first and which one would pay as the
secondary.

Last, you buy collision damage waiver. Many people will
tell you that this is coverage for your deductible. This is not true. When you
rent a car, you agree that you will return the vehicle as it was given to you.
You also agree that in case of a rental car accident, you will pay for the car.
A collision damage waiver will waive that provision of your
contract. This means that you are no longer responsible for the rental car.
However, you still need to file a claim for your medical bills (in case of
injury) and to defend you or pay for the car you hit (if you are at fault).

Rental Car Accident - The Process and Your Rights

All the best,
Hector Quiroga

www.auto-insurance-claim-advice.com

Hector Quiroga has a high interest in helping consumers gain knowledge of the auto insurance claim process for both property damage and bodily injury claims. He covers in great detail what a car accident investigation entails and share many helpful tips for dealing with insurance companies and adjusters.

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