New services set MIS departments free

By Daniel Briere
Network World, 04/12/99

The application service provider and broadband-enabled ASP movement could, and hopefully will, spark a significant revolution in the network and computing business.

There are several ASP service models beginning to emerge. To broadly generalize, these service models would support:

Software distribution and revision management
Network-centric applications and computing
Creation and delivery of intranets and extranets

Most MIS directors and their staffs listen to the ASP pitch and think, "Wait a minute! This means I'm out of a job." On the contrary. We argue that it is the ASP movement that will get MIS out of the tactical trenches and into the boardroom.

When we explain ASP functions to MIS people, many times their first reaction is, "What will MIS be needed for? What will happen to all these darn PCs we've spent a gazillion dollars on? Let's bury this deep and make sure it never sees the light of day with management."

But wait: What if you didn't have to respond to a million desktop catastrophes per week? What if you didn't have to continually load software and manage the revisions and virus protection? What if you had somebody else to worry about how to implement PeopleSoft applications or e-commerce? What could you do then?

Maybe the MIS department would be tasked with planning the near and long-term strategy of the company and making recommendations for how the network could facilitate that plan. Or maybe MIS could help improve the business strategy after brainstorming about how the intranet or extranet could provide competitive advantages, lower costs or give access to new markets.

Maybe, instead of having a list of 50 prioritized projects, MIS could develop and present the company with 50 new ideas on how the network could create new revenue, new opportunity or more profit for the company.

This would be a cool job! There are a few companies that invite MIS into the boardroom and ask for input on the company's strategy. Some consider MIS to be so strategic that they don't make a major move before MIS is informed and signs on. Unfortunately, in most companies the MIS asset is completely overworked and under-used.

The ASP approach could emancipate the MIS department - provide liberation, freedom and power. Yes, it requires that you do networking in a completely new way. It requires that you relinquish control of some things so that you can control others. While it won't get MIS out of every tactical problem or daily operation, it will dramatically elevate the strategic role MIS plays in the organization, and could contribute to greater success and profits for your company. The real question is: Do you have the guts and the vision to make the change?