For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Lean: The New Business Technology Imperative

Lean Thinking Is Central To The Shift From IT To BT

by Connie Moore, Clay Richardson, John R. Rymer, Ted Schadler, Dave West, September 29, 2009

Everyone wants to be lean these days, whether when stepping off a scale in the morning or reviewing the cost of running a successful business. But just how do you define "Lean" — especially in the context of business and technology? Do you think of Lean . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

From Information Technology To Business Technology: An Interview With George F. Colony

by Connie Moore, George F. Colony, September 16, 2009

For the past four years, Forrester Research CEO George F. Colony has been preaching the gospel of converting information technologists into businesspeople. The number of converts has been lower than we hoped, but a generational change in IT and business . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Human Resource Management

by Zach Thomas, Paul D. Hamerman, Claire Schooley, January 21, 2009

The most important investments that businesses and government organizations make are in their people. In addition to direct expenditures on compensation and benefits, organizations invest in technology, outsourcing, professional services, and learning . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Business Intelligence

by Boris Evelson, November 21, 2008

Business intelligence (BI) is a set of methodologies, processes, architectures, and technologies that transform raw data into meaningful and useful information. It allows business users to make informed business decisions with real-time data that can . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Enterprise Apps Vendor Selection

Forrester's Reference Tool For Applications Decisions

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, November 11, 2008

Choosing the right vendor remains a critical success factor for every enterprise's business success. Consolidation in the vendor market, a plethora of deployment options, and the progression to a next generation of applications built with service-oriented . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Process & Applications Professionals: Must-Read Research In An Economic Downturn

by Sharyn Leaver, October 23, 2008

Although the first half of 2008 showed a steady pace of technology spending, according to our latest research it's very likely that a slowdown is coming. And in a down economy, businesses face tough decisions and inevitably look to cut spending. The good . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: ERP Applications 2008

Forrester's Reference Guide For Navigating The Ever-Expanding World Of ERP

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, June 24, 2008

Enterprise applications suites, commonly known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, represent the transactional backbone for most enterprises and comprise a variety of applications for finance and administration as well as industry-specific . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

What Process Experts Need To Know About SOA

by Andy Salunga, April 9, 2008

In recent years, as enterprise architecture and process professionals have begun to work together more closely, overlaps have been emerging between service-oriented architecture (SOA), business process management (BPM) solutions, and process improvement . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Customer Relationship Management 2008

by William Band, March 25, 2008

Forrester's customer relationship management (CRM) research helps CRM professionals embrace best practices — from process optimization to technology implementation — to improve the customer experience and drive top-line growth. Our research spans marketing, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Organizational Silos: Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

Financial Services Silos Need Connecting Bridges

by Mary Pilecki, October 2, 2007

Despite the fact that financial service institutions (FSIs) are working to break down organizational silos, there are large, costly roadblocks that stand in the way. Management, technology infrastructure, and compensation issues inhibit the strides that . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Specialized Customer Service Solutions Fill Gaps In Suite Functionality

by Chip Gliedman, September 24, 2007

To adequately meet customer service requirements, companies must address myriad channels, requirements, and needs. Forrester Research recently evaluated key vendors with broad solution portfolios for customer service and customer interaction management. . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Supply Chain Management

by Patrick M. Connaughton, George Lawrie, Roy C. Wildeman, September 20, 2007

Supply chain management (SCM) is the business process of managing the complex interaction of products, materials, equipment, labor, and cash as they flow through the supply chain and fulfill customer demand. Forrester's SCM research helps firms navigate . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Enterprise Applications Vendor Selection

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, October 30, 2006

As vendors and enterprises enter the next generation of applications built with SOA and Web services, many clients seek to upgrade, replace, or migrate from existing systems. In addition, a consolidating vendor market and the movement toward working with . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Enterprise Resource Planning

Forrester's Quick Reference Guide For Navigating The Ever-Expanding World Of ERP

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, August 8, 2006

Enterprise applications suites, commonly known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, represent the transactional backbone for most enterprises and comprise a variety of applications for finance and administration, as well as industry-specific . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Pruning The Pricing Landscape: Much More To Come

by Noha Tohamy, August 2, 2005

2005 promised to be a break-out year for pricing solutions, yet the first few months have shown low levels of activity in terms of actual deployments, thus wreaking havoc on small vendors' aspirations for growth. Vendors are improving their survival odds . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Concerto To Acquire ACD Leader Aspect

Concerto Significantly Increases Market Share With Merger

by Elizabeth Herrell, July 6, 2005

On July 5, 2005, Concerto Software announced that it plans to acquire Aspect Communications, a leading provider of contact center solutions and workforce management, and become the largest company that exclusively sells contact center software. Concerto's . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Forrester Wave™: eService, Q1 2005

Lab-Based Evaluation Of Top eService Vendors Across 117 Criteria

by John Ragsdale, March 29, 2005

This Forrester Wave includes a detailed, customizable data spreadsheet; presentation resources; and in-depth evaluations of the following vendors: eGain, iPhrase, KANA, KnowledgeBase Solutions, RightNow, and ServiceWare

Continued customer adoption of nonphone channels and a new focus by many consumer-facing companies on improving the customer experience are changing the requirements for eService projects. No longer seen as just a way to deflect live calls, eService vendors . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Are Our Supply Chains Less Vulnerable Now?

Federal Government Must Do More For Security

by Noha Tohamy, October 18, 2004

Since 9/11, the US government has implemented few security initiatives in collaboration with the private sector. Much talked about programs like the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and The 24-Hour Advance Manifest Rule still get mixed reviews of their . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Manugistics' New CEO Faces A Tough Battle

Here Are Recommendations To Bring Growth Back To The SCM App Vendor

by Noha Tohamy, August 23, 2004

This week, Forrester spoke with Joe Cowan, Manugistics' new CEO. Given the supply chain ISV's dismal financial results, Manugistics' investors expect Cowan — who successfully sold ailing EXE to consolidator SSA Global — to initiate a major turnaround . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Bush Or Kerry For An American Innovation Century?

The Next President Must Ensure US Firms' Success In Global Innovation Networks

by Navi Radjou, August 18, 2004

America is confronting a major economic threat as US firms face a crushing tidal wave of innovation demand. US companies' survival hinges on their ability to meet this global demand by harnessing the invention and innovative services available through . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Some Breathing Room For Section 404

SEC Extends Deadline For Key Sarbanes-Oxley Requirement

by Paul D. Hamerman, March 2, 2004

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) extended the deadline by five months for complying with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, related to internal controls. The extension reflects the difficulty and complexity for US public companies to report on . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Oracle's Bid For PeopleSoft Fails To Sway Antitrust Authority

by Paul D. Hamerman, February 18, 2004

The preliminary recommendation of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to block Oracle's bid to acquire PeopleSoft signals a worsening of Oracle's already dim prospects to complete the hostile takeover. Oracle has not thrown in the towel yet — a final DOJ . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Oracle Launches Strong Customer Data Integration Offering

by Erin Kinikin, February 6, 2004

Oracle must prove that its customer data integration platform is more than a Trojan Horse for packaged application solutions and can meet the needs of heterogeneous enterprises.

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Ariba And FreeMarkets Stop Wrestling And Merge

by Laurie M. Orlov, Andrew Bartels, Colin Teubner, January 26, 2004

As long-time competitors in the procurement and sourcing market, the two largest best-of-breed players buried the competitive hatchet and merged. The secret going forward? Go where SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft aren't.

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The X Internet And Business Profitability

by Navi Radjou, Christopher Mines, Ryan Hudson, Natalie Lambert, December 15, 2003

The X Internet connects firms' IT systems to physical products, assets, and devices. Winners will proactively use it to transform their ops, processes, and business model - and shut out rivals.