VORTEX Digest John Gallant Spotlights Top Network News and Issues Comments to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Oct. 15, 2004 Volume 6, Number 12 ********************************************************* In This Issue: * We're back from VORTEX 2004! * The three levels of enterprise IT restructuring * VORTEX 2004: How was it for you? * Invite a friend to join the discussion * Subscription information *********************************************************
"It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life." Green Day Dear Vorticians, I'm back from VORTEX 2004 where we drank from a fire hose of information and opinion from some of the smartest people in our industry. Where do I begin in trying to capture for you the ideas, insights and controversy that emerged in the 36 hours we convened to discuss the future of enterprise IT? I hope the folks who attended VORTEX will do me the honor of weighing in here. What were the key issues and findings that you came away with? Drop us your thoughts at [EMAIL PROTECTED] For my part, a couple of key observations come immediately to mind: * The enterprise IT market is absolutely on the threshold of profound change - meaning the underlying premise of VORTEX 2004 was richly validated. We explored the ways that both major vendors and innovators are driving this change and how they are attempting to capitalize on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses - strengths and weaknesses that became very clear through our discussions with the companies themselves, as well as with analysts, investors and customers. The major vendors spoke consistently about attempting to create the next "platform" for enterprise IT and, as history has shown, customers won't - and can't - support a wide variety of platforms. I'll explore the positions of the leaders in future missives. * The restructuring of enterprise IT is occurring at three levels: -- At the application and application development level. Attendees may have debated whether we are coming to the end of the packaged application era, but it's clear that we are rapidly moving into an era of software-as-a-service, utility applications, if you will. How much of the market these Web- delivered apps will capture is one of the more interesting questions for the future. How many standalone applications vendors can survive is another. On the app dev front, CIOs clearly see the value of services-oriented applications and they are eager for guidance and direction from key vendors on how to build them. But we're in the early stages of this and a great deal of work remains to be done before the market truly embraces a services oriented future. -- At the infrastructure level. Customers are deeply interested in ways to streamline, centralize and automate IT, and there will be a battle royal among storage, network and computer vendors to deliver the best architecture and best management tools. Companies like IBM and Microsoft will compete at both the first and second levels - delivering platforms for services-based applications as well as tools to automate and virtualize infrastructure, where EMC, Sun, Cisco and HP will also vie as alternatives. The vendors promise to play well together, but it's apparent that buyers will have to make hard choices about which strategic 'vision' to adopt. -- At the services level. Services play a critical role in the strategies of some key players, much less so in the plans of others. How much handholding and outside help will customers need in moving to virtualization, SOA and other initiatives? Are we looking at a do-it-yourself or outsourced IT future? * Geoffrey Moore is a dream co-host. Smart, funny, a great speaker and completely wired into the industry, Geoff was everything I hoped he'd be for VORTEX attendees. His opening remarks on the tectonic shifts ahead for enterprise IT set exactly the right tone for the conference, and he handled his interviewing responsibilities with just the right mix of charm and pressure. If you'd like to review the slides from Geoff's "Orchestrating the Stack" discussion, you can simply click on http://www.idgexecforums.com/vortex2/moore.pdf . But you really should have been there to hear it in person. * The IT industry is at a crossroads when it comes to government, leadership and U.S. tech policy - or the lack thereof. I'll cover this in more depth in an upcoming newsletter, but I had the pleasure of moderating an open Town Meeting on the future of the U.S. tech industry at VORTEX and the debate was red hot. You can get a taste of the talk by reading Network World's coverage of the session at http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/101104vortex.html . I've hardly scratched the surface with this note and I'm looking forward to exploring the topics we discussed at the conference. But I need to sign off now before I overstay my welcome for the week. I'll be back soon. As always, reach me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Bye for now. P.S. A special thanks to everyone who attended VORTEX 2004. If I didn't have the opportunity to speak with you in person at the event, I apologize. Please send me your thoughts on how we can improve VORTEX. ********************************************************* Tell a Friend ********************************************************* Is there a friend or colleague you'd like to have join the discussions held here at VORTEX Digest? Have them subscribe to receive the weekly Digest at: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx ********************************************************* ABOUT VORTEX DIGEST ********************************************************* VORTEX Digest is written weekly by Executive Producer John Gallant and offers an ongoing dialogue on matters raised at The VORTEX Conference, and within the VORTEX Community. VORTEX is an exclusive, invitation-only event for senior executives that brings together all the key elements: leadership, thought, funding, and regulatory expertise, to shape the future of the network business and the technologies that drive it. VORTEX shakes off the hype and helps you understand where you can win new customers, and find new revenue in a time of dramatic and seemingly unpredictable change. ********************************************************* SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION ********************************************************* To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx To access the VORTEX Digest archives: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/vortex/index.html To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Preferences.aspx To change your e-mail address, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. Have editorial comments? Contact John Gallant at mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] For advertising information: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright: Network World, Inc. 2004 ------------------------ This message was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
