The technology conversation we’re not having

‘Integration’ is the conversation we’re not having.

In Big Data is Distracting Us from the Real Conversation yesterday by TIBCO CTO Matt Quinn, the point was made that the world is easily distracted by over-hyped technology that gets enormous press and budgets but isn’t necessarily at the core of what’s needed for many companies.

Imagine a world

Quinn points out that mobile, social and cloud data are all a factor in what companies struggle to manage as part of big data, but just below that conversation is the one we’re not having…how to integrate enterprise people, process and technology. That’s the much harder part of what’s necessary for success but isn’t nearly as attention-getting as the, “Imagine a world…” conversations.

This isn’t a long article for a very good reason…it isn’t a complicated topic. Integration of systems that include humans and electrons is the real challenge. The rest can be overcome with relatively smaller investment and at lower risk. What holds people back?

That’s the real question. I would suggest it is a combination of the following:

• Hoping to ‘paper over’ the challenges that seem insurmountable with new, glitzy technology
• Fear of failure from taking on anything too big, even if it is necessary
• Lack of budget necessary to fix the ‘real’ problem
• Incomplete understanding of what integration really means to an enterprise

Matt Quinn will be speaking at Cloud Connect in Santa Clara this coming week. Join us for more of the conversation.

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Christopher Taylor