This publication is the result of the long professional careers of the authors in the management, architecture and design of very large information systems. The content is the result of the personal experience of the authors and represents their personal views on the subject matter. Although numerous examples from the Credit Suisse AG very large information system are used, the content never constitutes any view, opinion, or obligation for Credit Suisse AG. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.Cover design: WMXDesign GmbH, Heidelberg, GermanyPrinted on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
ForewordInformation technology requirements at today's companies have soared, placing IT at the heart of everything that companies do. IT enables businesses to conduct their core activities and connects a wide range of internal experts with a variety of external clients. IT services have evolved rapidly and broadly from simple desktop support to complex systems and networks so critical to success that, without them, companies would come to a standstill. The success of IT is rooted in the need to actively help shape an organization's overall strategy, and thus to understand and anticipate changing client requirements. On the one hand, this collaboration is based on an equal partnership with the business side of the company -a partnership that requires a solid foundation of trust and leadership. On the other hand, it means that IT must be agile not only in its processes and systems, but also in its mindset. Together with comprehensive technical expertise and proven talent, this heightened level of agility requires interdisciplinary and integrated thinking. In the end, this is the essence of a world class IT organization.The dynamic interplay of an equal partnership with the business and a heightened level of agility are crucial factors for a Managed Evolution strategy as described in detail on the following pages. It is this dynamic interplay which forms the basic principle that guides IT in everything it does. This principle allows IT to develop and implement a vision, and gives it the freedom to drive a company forward. This is the spirit of this book, which provides theoretical e...
