business analysis

Moving from Information Technology to Business Technology

New technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, and enhanced mobile capabilities call for new processes. Today, IT departments must have a deeper understanding of the businesses they serve, the professions they automate, and how technology is best employed—from a business perspective.

Eric Bloom's picture
Eric Bloom
Long-Term Trends: Project Schedule and Productivity on the Decline

QSM recently completed an analysis of how project schedule has changed over time and the subsequent impact on effort and productivity. The results indicate that project size, effort, and productivity have all decreased over time. This story explores the findings and shares some related observations.

Katie  Costantini's picture
Katie Costantini
Aligning IT with the Business: The Age-Old Debate

The topic of IT–business alignment is a subject that has been discussed, debated, theorized, and proceduralized for decades. Why is it still a topic at all? Well, mainly because of differing beliefs about IT’s job function. How do you define the relationship between IT and the overall organization?

Eric Bloom's picture
Eric Bloom
When IT Falters, So Does the Company

Manual procedures are rarely used today. On the upside, computerization has dramatically increased employee productivity and reduced the cost of automation. On the downside, a company cannot run without it. This means that IT operations are crucial to company success—not just a necessary evil.

Eric Bloom's picture
Eric Bloom
Why Mobile-Specific Shopping Apps Are on the Rise

Consumers today are comfortable using their smartphones as their primary shopping devices, and trends suggest that desktop shopping will continue to fall behind. Anything a retailer can do to attract this growing group of mobile-savvy customers will be a smart business plan.

Mukesh Sharma's picture
Mukesh Sharma
Loyalty Programs Find a Home on Mobile

Simplicity helps lower the barrier to entry for mobile programs like Starbucks, Belly, and Front Flip, but the convenience of having it all readily available on your phone really takes it over the top. Read more to learn how mobile apps are changing reward programs for the better.

Josiah Renaudin's picture
Josiah Renaudin
How All These Acquisitions Are Affecting the Technology Industry

Acquisition budgets for technology organizations are going up, and deal numbers are reaching heights not seen since the dot-com boom. It is the collective responsibility of the whole industry—businesses being acquired and those doing the acquiring—to ensure the landscape is competitive yet healthy.

Mukesh Sharma's picture
Mukesh Sharma
Agile Testing: A Lesson in Diversity

Though many QA organizations today use agile development methods, depending on the industry, they can experience very different challenges and successes. By exploring the diversity in the testing world, you can learn other industries’ strengths and think about how they could apply to your field.

Deepika Mamnani's picture
Deepika Mamnani