2014 State of Outsourcing Study<\/a> are rapid adoption of GBS, or at least a hybrid delivery model, a shortage of skilled talent, and the desire to accomplish more strategic objectives than in the past.<\/p>\nWithout delving into too much detail about those trends, the implications to overall enterprise SSO governance capability is the need for consistency in the way shared service and outsourcing environments are managed. Going forward, enterprises can\u2019t afford to let each governance group define and execute governance its own way based on who\u2019s in the group.<\/p>\n
Because of the hybrid model most enterprises are adopting, the number of data sources has grown dramatically. Governance needs a way to aggregate that data into a structured repository. Without this ability, providing end-to-end service level and organization-specific financial reporting and analytics is virtually impossible.<\/p>\n
Descriptive analytics that tell you what happened have been available for quite some time, but predictive and prescriptive analytics that forecast what will happen and what you should do about it are incredibly important to accomplishing the strategic objectives enterprises seek.<\/p>\n
To address the talent shortage, enterprises must fully leverage their available resources. Since a significant portion of the work of governance is routine in nature, it can be automated. That frees up limited staff to focus on higher value activities like collaborating with service providers or consulting with the business.<\/p>\n
Governance Solution providers, whether delivered via software or services, help address each of these challenges.<\/p>\n
What capabilities do these Governance Solutions bring to enterprises?<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nDepends a bit whether they are a product company or a services company. Software firms can assist by taking documented governance process flows and enabling them using workflow. All of the business rules and decisions are codified, so when key team members move on to other jobs, their knowledge is retained and leveraged. Additionally, this drives consistency across multiple governance groups if they use the same core processes and only configure procedures peculiar to their environment.<\/p>\n
The benefits of automation can also be significant. For example, these software applications, once configured, can extract source data from operational systems, calculate service levels, determine consumption buy business units, create pro forma invoices for verification, and many other routine, but time consuming tasks. Governance tools can also automate a huge percentage of the associated reporting requirements.<\/p>\n
Governance software tools also provide a repository for all agreements and governance forms. Having a full-text searchable, secure, version controlled repository can save a huge amount of time and effort, particularly when you are reporting on that information or status.<\/p>\n
From a managed governance services (MGS) perspective, each of these providers leverages an enabling platform and provides additional services to compliment the software capabilities we just discussed. Additional services range from governance staff augmentation, to providing compliance and risk audits, to offering coaching, to providing strategic sourcing recommendations based on industry trends or proprietary market benchmark data. There are a number of options to quickly improve a governance group\u2019s overall capability and maturity.<\/p>\n
So… who are the leading providers and what differentiates them?<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nEnlighta, ISG, and KPMG are the top providers in this year\u2019s Blueprint Axis. Enlighta offers a software application called Govern that provides comprehensive governance functionality. It is the most robust and flexible tool that we evaluated in this study. Enlighta also offers another product, Deliver, that actually runs on the same platform as Govern, that competes in the Service Management Software (SMS) category against products like Remedy and Tivoli. A key differentiator is that enterprises seeking an integrated service management and delivery platform for their business service functions can go with Enlighta.<\/p>\n
ISG (formerly TPI) has been in the sourcing advisory space since the beginning. They were also the first to offer managed governance services to their clients. Their approach has been to partner with various tool providers to create an enabling platform configuration unique to each client. Some of the software partners include Enlighta, StatusGreen, Apptio, and Blazent into what they call \u201cISG Labs.\u201d The ISG Managed Governance group offers managed governance services as well as Service Integration and Management (SIAM) services.<\/p>\n
KPMG\u2019s Managed Governance Services (MGS) offerings originated at EquaTerra, which was acquired by KPMG in 2011. EquaTerra had a proprietary governance platform called EquaSiis Enterprise that was sold as a software application. When EquaTerra, and EquaSiis, was acquired by KPMG a managed governance group was formed that leveraged EquaSiis Enterprise, now renamed Governance Workplace. The KPMG MGS group leverages the comprehensive functionality of Governance Workplace with a well trained staff to provide as set of very competitive services to Information Technology and non-IT business service clients alike. As you would imagine as part of an audit firm, particular attention and functionality on risk management is emphasized.<\/p>\n
And finally, what are the key takeaways you would like to leave us with?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n