According to IDC Research, almost half a billion smartphones shipped globally in 2011, a 61.3% growth from the year before. There are over 2 billion Internet users worldwide while over 90% of the US population are wired (Source: Internet World States) to search and access content in the cloud. Lastly, there are over 900 million Facebook users as of last month.

Computing Professionals in the 1920s

Malcolm Ross, VP of Product Marketing at Appian, shared his take on the evolution of the workplace and new technology imperatives for process improvement in a recent online webinar. From the industrial revolution and rise of office workers in the 1920s, the Personal Computer (PC) era in the 80s, to the 24/7 connected mobile workforce today, how we work has come a long way.

Surely, the technologies we depend on to do our day-to-day jobs have evolved as well. Or have they? Take a look at some of the most common enterprise applications you use at work. Are they mobile enabled? Are they accessible anytime, anywhere in the cloud? Are they intuitive, collaborative, and easy to use like the social media sites you frequent?

The Appian BPM Suite is a technology platform that truly embraces mobile, cloud, and social. Malcolm provided insights on the evolution and the adoption of each technology during the webinar. He further elaborated on key features of a modern BPM system developed and designed with these key technology pillars, putting user experience and ease-of-use in mind first. Malcolm also did a live demonstration to show Business Activity Monitor (BAM) dashboards and report analytics, how one can easily and quickly drag-and-drop design icons to model a process diagram, connect with systems using Smart Services plugins, create rules and timers for process automation.

Apple iPhone and RIM Blackberry were both shown during the mobile demo to highlight device differences. Appian’s natively built BPM application embodies the write once, deploy all model with one-click mobile enablement that takes into account mobile experiences on different phones. Read Malcolm’s recent blog on mobile platforms and process innovations, if you are interested in learning more about the challenges and complexities of enterprise mobile development.

If you’ missed the webinar and would like to view this and other webinar recordings, they are available on demand for playback. The live questions and answers from the Modern BPM webinar are available here. You may also follow Appian and Malcolm Ross on Twitter for industry updates, news, and thoughts on process innovation.

~ Cindy Cheng, Director, Product Marketing

Presenter: Malcolm Ross, VP of Product Marketing at Appian

Q: How do you design & manage security for smart phones?
A: Design a native mobile experience with varying levels of encryption. Minimal to no data stored in mobile – all the secured data are send over the wire online and not saved in the phone.

Q: How does Appian work with legacy systems?
A: Out-of-the-box Smart Services to utilize web services, JMS connectivity, partner solutions, or connectors.

Q: Workflow capabilities of BPM vs. CRM (ERP, or legacy application)?
A: CRM & ERP system workflows are designed with those specific functions in mind and are very vertical in nature. BPM is a platform that is broader and can be extended across organizational functions and technology systems. The key differences being level of control and adaptability.

Q: Is the Business Rules engine native to Appian or is it a 3rd party engine?
A: Everything from the Modeler, Designer, Process Execution Engine, Analytics, as well as Rules Engine are from Appian, developed on a tightly integrated platform.

Q: Is your cloud offering multi-tenant or do customers have to run their own Amazon EC2 footprint?
A: It’s a combination – the backend architecture is EC2 and we can combine a multi-tenant or dedicated instance based on customer’s compliance preference. All customers get the benefit of the cloud experience. As a new upgrade to the Appian product comes out, all the updates to the server are done automatically so you don’t have to worry about upgrading the installations. We can dynamically scale – Appian servers or instances are not limited to a specific hardware requirements.

Q: Does Appian integrate to MS Sharepoint and social media sites?
A: Appian’s MS Sharepoint connector publishes tasks, key events, and reports to the Sharepoint system. In addition, the Sharepoint connector includes a web services interface to orchestrate all the core elements of a SP system, such as: creation, read, update and delete of lists, sites, folders, and documents. Developers can create process patterns to manage your Sharepoint environment. Also, extended Smart Services using OAuth can be used to connect to consumer-facing social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook to publish information to them.

Q: Can we then customize push updates?
A: Yes, you may create rules and schedule automatic updates to push out information, status, events, reports, and any other object in Appian.

Q: Can we customize the dashboard?
A:  Yes, the dashboard is customizable and configurable using out-of-the box report and dashboard templates, chart types (e.g., bar, line, pie, stack charts, and more), and expression builders. You may also set different security access levels and settings to each dashboard to provide an executive management dashboard, a team dashboard, or personalized dashboard by role.

Q: Is the dashboard available on the mobile app?
A: The dashboard is currently not available on the mobile app. For mobile users, a event monitoring / activity stream interface is better given the form factor of the device. Mobile users can quickly monitor activities and take actions, just like in the dashboard, but in a form factor that makes sense given the small screen size.

Q: Can Appian forms/processes be saved and applied to a new client? Such as a starter package?
A:  All Appian forms, processes, reports, dashboards, and objects are portable so you may export and import them into a new environment. You may also save forms and processes as templates to be used by designers, clients, and end-users of your designation. Appian also offers a number of industry solutions and functional templates to help clients create faster ROI based on existing best process practices.

Q: Cloud, Mobile, and Social have happened for Appian within the past 2 years.  What are the next different level of functionality that you see in the next 2 years?
A: Appian has been the leader in BPM and will continue to innovate. If you’re an Appian customer or partner, please stay tuned for product release announcements on Appian Forum. You may also follow us on Twitter or subscribe to the Appian blog for updates.

Q: Will Appian Mobile be available for all platforms?
A: Appian BPM is available on Apple iPhone, iPads, Google Android, and RIM Blackberry phones. We’ll continue to monitor the adoption for Microsoft Windows Phone 8 and other mobile device platforms to make strategic product investments based on market trends and customer demands.

Q: Is the Palette extensible and able to be restricted as to what elements may be used?
A: The Appian BPM design palette is extensible. Many of the out-of-the-box Smart Services plugins available today were developed by Appian Professional Services consultants. Similarly, you may develop your own custom plugins using the Appian Developer tool, than make those available in the palette for process designers to drag-and-drop into process models.

Q: What standards does the modeler employ (BPMN, etc.)
A: Appian supports the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) standard and is involved in key industry organizations, including WfMC, OMG, OASIS. Appian BPM also supports SOA frameworks for systems integration based on SOAP and REST web services.

Q: How does “social” integrate with Microsoft SharePoint collaboration or other social media environments?
A: See answer to “Does Appian integrate to MS Sharepoint and social media sites?”

Q: What is the iPad experience? The same as the iOS or optimized for the larger screen?
A: The Appian BPM experience on iPad, as demonstrated in the webinar during the Q&A portion, is based on Apple’s iOS and is very similar to the iPhone experience. It is, indeed, optimized for the larger screen so process designers have a larger screen to work with. Forms with dual columns, tables, images, and lengthier text descriptions are good candidates for the iPad format.

Q: Can you create parent processes that dynamically initiate “n” number of subprocesses? (e.g. one order as a process, and 10 sub-processes, 1 for each type of item ordered)
A: Yes, Appian allows designers to create dynamic number of sub-process instances based on a business rule.

Q: Do you [work with] 3rd party software to handle different platform devices?
A: Yes, Appian technology uses a variety of toolsets to ensure proper operation and compliance with various web browsers and mobile devices.

Q: How can we monitor desktop/mobile performance?
A: Business Activity Monitor (BAM) and analytics capabilities from Appian enable one to monitor processes performance. The Appian Server Administration Guide provides monitoring recommendations for performance optimization for on-premise instances of Appian BPM. The Real Time M onitor allows one to review the performance and status of each Appian Engine. Following best practices, monitoring the Appian Process and Analytics Engines, and reviewing log files will make sure the desktop and mobile experiences remain consistent and responsive.

Q: Are there any topics on ‘execute’ and ‘manage’ portion of BPM?
A: Yes, the Process Execution engine is the core of Appian Business Process Management Suite. Here’s an article for a brief overview, learn more about the Process Execution and Optimization capabilities for effective management and improvement of your processes. Read one of the industry analysts reports to learn more about Appian BPM and how it stacks against other vendors in this space. You may also find a whitepaper that might further address specific aspects or applications of BPM,

Q: I saw [how to use] Appian to build a form. But how does the Appian work with legacy systems to automate or execute the process?
A: Appian provides standards-based connectors and adapters for common system interfaces and integrations within a SOA framework. Integrate to systems and external services through SOAP and REST web services. You may also connect to existing RDBMS data sources to directly orchestrate and manage your enterprise data into new processes.

Q: Can you speak about how is the product licensed? Per user? per designer? Core based license?
A: Appian is licensed per user.

Q: Can you integrate to a customer native mobile application that is designed to interface with Appian?
A: Yes. Appian provides a number of integration adapters to connect data together on back-end servers.  This can be used to synchronize data across multiple applications.

Q: Is there a demo version I can play with?
A: Yes, you may sign up for an Appian BPM trial for full access in the cloud: https://www.appian.com/campaigns/appian-cloud-registration.jsp

Q: Is it possible for users to send data to server by offline way?
A: Yes. Appian provides an email listener framework, allowing users to draft conent offline and submit via email once connected.

Q: What is the difference between BPM and BPA?
A: Business Process Management (BPM) consists of methodologies and technologies to improve, manage, and optimize business processes to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and performance. Core components of a complete BPM Suite should consists of design, modeling, execution, monitoring, optimization capabilities. In recent years, many BPM Suites have evolved to include other capabilities for decision management through rules, content and document management, forms, social collaboration features, and analytics to address more complex use cases. Appian BPM includes all core and extended capabilities on an integrated platform.

Business Process Analysis (BPA) mostly focuses on process modeling and offline analysis to improve business performance. Although important, it’s a subset of what a full BPM Suite can provide. It is important to note that having a Business Analyst or specifically, a Business Process Analysts, is often a key requirement in many BPM projects. The BAs or BPAs are often more business oriented and less technical than say, a Process or IT System Administrator.

Q: How customizable is the interface? Can it be branded?
A: Appian BPM Interfaces on the web and on mobile are absolutely customizable configurable. All known Appian customers have a custom interface with their own logo, menu of options, forms, reports, dashboards, data and content types, and other attributes that are unique and designed for their specific processes.

Q: Does Appian have any capabilities to assist in migration from other BPM Applications?
A: Yes. All Appian artifacts, including process definitions are stored in a standard XML format.  Developers can create XML transformations to map existing process assets for import into Appian.

~ Cindy Cheng, Director, Product Marketing

Compounding the challenge for agency CIOs is a series of new initiatives from the Office of the Federal CIO.  These initiatives provide important guidelines CIOs are required to follow in the quest for more effective and cost efficient applications.  However, those guidelines do not lay out a specific approach likely to lead to success, leaving it up to CIOs and their staffs to find their own way.

I’m sure all Federal CIOs are feeling the heat and are committed to improving, but I worry that many don’t understand how they got into this position.   Albert Einstein is noted for saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  It’s clear that much of the past IT poor performance is a result of trying to adapt traditional commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software applications to government needs.  To avoid the insanity trap, Federal CIOs and their staffs need to adopt modern approaches to creating applications.

To help Federal CIOs sort through the new initiatives and find a way out of the insanity trap, I created a white paper titled, “Adapting to the New Information Technology Directives: A Guide for Federal Government CIOs.”  The paper explains the specific directives, combines them with the broad goals of government IT reform, and distills everything into six main points.  Those points are as follows:

1. Adopt “Business Ready Technology”
2. Move from “Best of Breed” to “One Platform, One Environment”
3. Scrap the Traditional Approach to Gathering Requirements and Writing RFPs
4. Focus on Flexibility, Not Just “Cloud”
5. Think “Lead the Receiver”
6. Begin with Social and Mobile in Mind

Agency CIOs can also look for help from their peers who have blazed a trail by creating major new applications using modern BPM platforms.  Over 35 Federal agencies are already experiencing great success with the Appian BPM Suite, including the US Marine Corps, FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, FDA, FEMA, The Library of Congress, and Defense Acquisition University.  These agencies have found a way to escape the insanity trap of continuing to invest in traditional COTS applications.

You can escape the insanity trap too.  My white paper will get you started so download it right now.

Evan McDonnell

Vice President of Solutions

These words are from the web site for the Ovum Industry Conference 2012 (running Wednesday and Thursday of this week in London). Appian decided to sponsor the event because its focus – the new challenges and opportunities confronting global CIOs – is something we think about every day. Appian’s BPM software is designed to enable the modern CIO to drive greater value from a fractured and changing IT environment.

Edward Hughes, our Senior VP of World Wide Sales, will be part of a Day One panel discussion called “Everything is New, and Yet Much the Same.” He will discuss how Mobile BPM, Cloud BPM and Social BPM are creating a more value-oriented IT landscape by uniting people, processes, systems and data for better action at the point of decision.

Appian BPM is the CIO’s silver bullet. It solves the fundamental problem of application sprawl by delivering a single platform for the unification of all enterprise apps. It provides a single, consistent and simple environment for the use of all applications, eliminating untold hours of app-by-app user training and reducing the risk of user rejection. It makes broad enterprise mobility a reality by drastically reducing the cost of mobile app development and the skills required to support multiple apps across multiple mobile platforms.

Stop by our exhibit booth (Booth #3) to learn more. Also, to get Ovum’s view on the Appian BPM Suite, read the Ovum BPM Decision Matrix report and Ovum’s Appian Technology Audit report.

-Ben Farrell, Director, Corporate Communications

IT executives should be especially fearful of the seemingly rapid rises and declines of mobile platforms.  Promising platforms like WebOS and once dominate platforms like Symbian have seen their fortunes shift almost overnight and have now been relegated to the near death category.  Investing precious past IT dollars on one of these platforms for an enterprise back office solution might now well cost an IT exec his/her job.    On the same note, investing in one of the hot consumer products by Apple and Google, while not ensuring it meets strict corporate security controls, can have equally disastrous results.

Given these choices, most organizations settle for the lowest common denominator in mobile development – HTML 5 in the mobile web browser.  While HTML5 or a hybrid web/native solution is a practical solution to avoid platform lock-in, it is ultimately settling for an inferior, slower, and less device specific experience that does not truly fulfill the promise of mobile innovation.

Truly powerful mobile experiences unlock the full capabilities of the device that HTML5 cannot touch.  Mobile features like voice capture, image/video capture, geolocation (without annoying pop-ups), etc. and all in a super fast and responsive user interface simply cannot be obtained using HTML5.  HTML5 and Javascript will always run slower than a native application, and the API’s for voice, camera, etc.  just don’t exist for a pure mobile web interface.

Given the current mobile market dynamics, we can’t expect the same platform homogeny that existed with Microsoft Windows in the PC market over the past 20+ years.  Enterprises must start looking towards platforms that enable process innovation across multiple mobile device platforms, while at the same time removing platform specific risk and complexity.

This tenant has been core to Appian’s vision for the future mobile workforce.  The Appian BPM Suite has led the market in ease-of-use in process modeling and deployment, and our approach to mobile is equally as simple and easy to deploy.  Using native client apps for each major device, developers can immediately deploy innovative process solutions without writing a single line of code for a specific mobile platform.

We at Appian are very excited about helping our customers unleash the power of these mobile devices and changing the very meaning of work.  If you’d like to learn more, check out some of our white-papers and recorded webinars.

Malcolm Ross

VP, Product Marketing

Modernizing IT infrastructures, systems, and services provides the foundation for other IT transformation projects. Reducing the number of data centers, unifying on a single email system, using cloud-based electronic forms, records, documents, and content management solutions are part of that journey. So is continuous process improvement and automation through business process management (BPM) methodologies and technologies.

From its first customer in government to now more than 35 Federal customers, Appian is no stranger to understanding specific government requirements, providing the BPM platform to meet business goals, and delivering projects on time and within budget. Furthermore, Appian is winning industry accolades as the market leader in cloud, mobile, and social BPM with innovative features and enterprise-ready capabilities that are setting the pace for other vendors to follow. Here are a few examples of how Appian is helping the US government be leaner, more efficient, and more effective:

• U.S. Marine Corps: 9 million in first-year savings with optimized procurement processes. Learn More
• Department of Homeland Security: Annual reporting goes from weeks to seconds with case management solution. Learn More
• FDA: BPM-based case management supports mission of advancing public health. Learn More

Learn more about how Modern BPM can power the enterprise for process innovation in a free webinar on May 17th, 2012 from noon to 1 PM ET. Hear from Appian VP, Malcolm Ross, and see how you could leverage BPM, cloud computing, social collaboration, and mobility to achieve process excellence in any organization.

- Cindy Cheng, Director, Product Marketing

So much positive news in the space of a week had me feeling optimistic that we are on a path to stop wasting tax payer money and bring effective IT systems to government.  But my good mood ended when an e-mail hit my inbox with fresh evidence of some of the thinking and behaviors that have caused the Federal government’s IT investments to significantly underperform.

Here’s some background.  The first Federal CIO, Vivek Kundra, introduced a 25 Point Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management in 2010 because of the sorry state of affairs that existed with government IT systems.  Kundra noted in the introduction to the plan, “despite spending more than $600 billion on information technology over the past decade, the Federal Government has achieved little of the productivity improvements that private industry has realized from IT.”

The uncertainty around Federal contracting rules is one reason for this poor performance.  Both government officials and vendors have been unclear as to what type of communication is sanctioned and what is not.  This has kept government IT leaders’ knowledge of latest technologies and adoption strategies behind the times.  The attention brought by the 25 point plan has spurred other parts of the government to rally and help.  Ms. Field’s memo titled, “Myth-Busting 2: Addressing Misconceptions and Further Improving Communication During the Acquisition Process” is one example.   Ms. Field notes in the memo, “Early, frequent, and constructive engagement with industry leads to better acquisition outcomes, which is why it is one of the key tenets of the Office of Management and Budget’s 25 Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal IT Management.“  Ms. Field went on to say further that, “Agencies appreciate industry’s valuable input into their acquisition strategies and solicitation packages because it may result in a better solution to their requirements. Suggesting detailed solutions to your concerns is even more valuable.”

The e-mail that turned my excitement to mush contained a newly released pre-RFP for a major Federal IT system.  The buyer sent out the pre-RFP to learn as much as possible about commercial best practices so it could adopt the best strategy to convert its legacy information systems environment into an agile and flexible operation.  I thought, “Great!  Here’s an agency that really wants to learn and is being proactive ahead of a major purchase.”  But my heart sank when I continued reading and found this sentence, “The agency has determined that the best approach for systems modernization is to use a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution rather than transforming its legacy systems.”  By specifying COTS, the agency had greatly restricted the field of possible solutions.

Things actually got worse from there.  The pre-RFP goes on to detail lots of specific functionality that the buyer says must be already available in the solution.  This sounds like a logical approach to purchasing, but it is way behind the times for IT systems selection.  By following this approach, the buyer is falling into an all-too-common trap that’s been a significant contributor to the $600B of ineffective government IT spending.

Let me explain.  The problem with the approach of limiting choices to COTS applications and evaluating them based on specific functionalities is that to have a successful selection, you need to document every known requirement and predict future requirements.  Not only does this require lots of work, it’s really an impossible task.  Users of IT systems often don’t know what they want (or what’s possible) until they get to start using new technology.  They really need hands-on experience before they can identify their most important requirements.  Evaluating COTS vendors based on specific functionality has shown to be equally flawed.  A full evaluation could determine that certain features are present in a particular product (allowing it to get a “check in the box”), only to have users realize six months after implementation that they didn’t ask for what they really wanted.  Now they are stuck.

So I’m going to accept Ms. Field’s invitation and begin my education for Federal IT buyers right here and now.  There’s one thing I can say that I believe will radically change the performance of Federal IT systems and it’s this:  Stop the COTS madness!

Leading private sector companies like Amazon.com, CME Group, and Crawford have already awoken to the fact that COTS products are attractive because they seem to do all or most of what you need, but in reality they fall short.  What looked good in a demo often has great limitations in practice.  I can hear what’s going through your head right now, “So you just ask the vendor to make a change to the product to fit your needs.”  Good luck.  Buyers of COTS applications all wake up to the fact that they are just one of many customers, each of whom wants changes to fit their needs.  What’s a typical COTS vendor, who has to look out for the interests of its shareholders, going to do?  They have to make hard choices about which customers to make happy and which to leave to find their own solutions.  How do I know?  Because I’ve worked for a number of COTS companies and I’ve seen this play out many times.  I was even the leader of Product Management at some of these companies and it was my job to make the hard decisions.

Instead of coming to an RFP with a COTS mentality and a long list of requirements to check off, Federal IT buyers need to create their RFPs around these principles:

• Ease of adapting a technology to fit evolving needs outweighs any list of current functionality
• You must get economies of scale from any purchase so you can avoid additional software license costs for your next set of needs and give your users the benefits of working from one platform
• Your organization, not the vendor, must have the ability to make adaptations on their own
• Easy movement between cloud and on-premise deployment is a must-have
• Built-in native mobile functionality on all major platforms is a requirement so the need for separate mobile applications can be eliminated
• Social collaboration must also be built-in to help shorten process cycle times

These principles support the goals of the 25 point Federal IT reform plan.  When Federal buyers adopt these principles, they will find themselves drawn towards business process management technology (BPM).  Over 35 Federal agencies are already experiencing great success with Appian’s BPM software, including the US Marine Corps, FDIC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, FDA, FEMA, The Library of Congress, and Defense Acquisition University.  It’s time to stop the COTS madness and join them.

Want to learn more about the challenges of COTS software?  Read my white paper titled, “Don’t License Another Software Application Until You Read This!”

Evan McDonnell

Vice President of Solutions

First up is the annual ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum from May 15th to May 17th in Orlando, Florida. As the premier event for insurance technology, business, and networking, you will hear from and meet today’s thought leaders who are defining and shaping the industry’s future. Find us in booth #1117 in the Exhibit Hall, where you will see how Appian BPM can help your organization tap the power of process innovation in the mobile and social age, and learn why we are the leader in Mobile BPM. In the mean time, check out insurance solutions and customers who are using Appian BPM to make their business more competitive, more agile, and more intelligent.

Want to learn more about mobile for the enterprise? Join us at the Mobile Government Implementation Strategies Seminar on May 16th in Washington, District of Columbia (DC). Learn how Federal agencies implement bring-your-own device (BYOD) and other mobility strategies while meeting technical challenges, ensuring data and network security. Hear from Appian’s VP of Federal and other executives on a “Making the Most of Mobility Technology for Your Agency” panel discussion at this free event. Appian delivers government solutions on a flexible platform that’s also cloud and mobile enabled. Learn how over 35 Federal agencies are using Appian BPM, including the US Army, FDA, FEMA, and more.

Can’t make it to Florida or DC next week? Register for the “Modern BPM for Process Innovation” webinar on May 17^th. Find out how your organization can leverage BPM, cloud technology, social collaboration, and mobility to drive performance and success. Start your journey to become an agile organization that can respond quickly to change and gain competitive advantage in the marketplace.

We are also planning to roll out the Tips and Tricks Webinar series for our customers and partners who want to take their BPM skills and projects to the next level. Stay tuned for announcement and updates on the Appian Forum.

Cindy Cheng, Director, Product Marketing

This ability to “view the source” is at the heart of the various advantages a BPM software platform has over packaged applications, also known as Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software.

The beauty of building applications using a BPM platform like Appian is that you truly own your applications. This is because all decent BPM platforms include a graphical modeler where an application’s pieces are configured, not coded. Instead of needing access to the underlying Java/C++ code, you only need access to the underlying configuration for Process Models, Rules, User Interfaces, etc.

For example, at any time you can view the source configuration for a BPM application simply by opening the Process Models in the modeler. And of course, because all good BPM suites use BPMN notation, the Process Models can be understood by anyone familiar with this industry standard notation. The same concept of configuration over coding applies to Rules, Constants, Data Structures, etc.

This is important because having access to your application source means you can see exactly how and why your application is working the way it is. Need to trace back and see why a certain decision was made? Just open the history of the model and view the gateway and rule logic that led to the final state. In addition, if you see an opportunity to improve your business processes, you can easily enhance your application if you have access to the source. You aren’t at the mercy of a consultant’s coding expertise (and hourly fee) or a vendor’s development roadmap.

In addition, truly advanced BPM suites provide full export capability, allowing you to export an entire application as a collection of XML files. This is especially important if you are running your BPM applications in the cloud. The website CIO.com recently highlighted the problem of cloud providers holding customer applications hostage. With responsible cloud BPM suites like Appian, customers need not worry because the customers themselves have the ability to export their entire application whenever they like.

With a BPM platform like Appian, you always have access to the source configuration for your applications. With that comes a degree of control that is simply not possible with COTS software. To learn more about the advantages of BPM software over packaged applications, read our “Don’t License Another Software Application Until You Read This!” white paper.

- Jed Fonner, Principal Consultant

Federal CIO Steven Van Roekel wants federal agency CIOs to embrace precisely that same lesson. Earlier this month, he announced finalization of the Federal IT Shared Services Strategy. This is big news, and BPM software can play a big role in helping government IT become “good sharers.”

The finalization of this strategy gives new directives (and new powers) to government CIOs to find new ways to leverage existing IT assets and programs across agencies. The essence of the goal, in Van Roekel’s words, is “to root out waste and duplication across the Federal IT portfolio.”

An IT shared service is defined as “an information technology function that is provided for consumption by multiple organizations within or between Federal Agencies.” There are three general categories: commodity, support, and mission.

CIOs have been directed to focus on commodity IT services first. This includes things like acquisition and identity/access management. Appian has government solution frameworks already available in both these areas (and others as well) that accelerate solution deployment while allowing easy configuration to fit the unique needs of individual agencies.

Even in the absence of pre-built frameworks, Appian offers a far-superior approach to that of packaged applications in establishing cross-agency services. For starters, Appian offers secure, fully functional deployment in the cloud (with easy migration on premise as needed), which is a key enabler of effective service sharing. In addition, Appian’s “configure, don’t code” approach gives agencies much greater flexibility in adapting the software as their needs evolve over time. For more on this, read our “Don’t License Another Software Application Until You Read This!” white paper.

Federal CIOs are required to act quickly on the IT Shared Services Strategy. By the end of August, each agency must submit an enterprise roadmap showing their plan to consolidate commodity IT services. As they start looking at this closely, the challenges associated with supporting multiple customers for the same service will emerge. Commercial shared services organizations and business process outsourcing companies have already encountered this in spades. Read “The Five Characteristics of Highly Successful BPM Deployments in Shared Services and BPO” for some proven best practices.

It’s always interesting to reflect on how childhood lessons like “learn to share” continue to ripple through our adult and professional lives. Now if only BPM could automate the “clean up your room” process…

-Ben Farrell, Director, Corporate Communications