The Research Group is a subscription-based research programme for technology-user organisations. It delivers a continuous flow of research and analysis which provides a guide and insight into strategic decision-making and effective investment in information and communications technology (ICT). This enables organisations to maintain a constantly updated ICT strategy, which is based on business requirements and takes account of emerging technologies. The focus is on the organisational aspects, business use and added value of ICT.
The service, which has been running for more than 20 years, is aimed at organisations which use ICT, apart from suppliers. The Research Group is formed by leading organisations from various sectors.
The service, which has been running for more than 20 years, is aimed at organisations which use ICT, apart from suppliers. The Research Group is formed by leading organisations from various sectors.
Why Group Membership?
The Research Group Membership is specifically aimed at senior management including CFOs, CIOs, ICT directors, ICT strategy managers and business managers involved in making ICT investment decisions. OTR-Group's mission is to keep senior executives up-to-date on key ICT topics and issues and to provide outstanding clarity, insight and candour. We specialise in analysing the impact of new technologies from a business point of view. For example, in what circumstances will value be added, how much of a return is likely and what will be the organisational consequences of implementing something new?
We provide one of three straightforward answers, supported by case studies and actual examples:
1 A real business advantage! - invest now.
2 Wait! - let the early adopters prove the case first.
3 Stop! - a transient technology or no provable business benefit.
ICT Strategy Through A Fine-Tuned And Tailor-Made Package
The Research Group is provided as a "bundled and customised" service. It includes:
Forum Meetings - Highly interactive workshops, where peers can openly debate about topics selected by the members and explore the latest practical experience and pioneering of others.
In-depth Research Reports - Concise, focused and clear management reports on selected topics by members.
Website Report Library - Extensive research library of research findings and previous research reports.
Advisory & Review Services - Rapid service from our panel of senior consultants, covering strategies and budgets in particular. These include:
Rapid, Clear And Independent
The activities are designed to be delivered rapidly with exceptional clarity and to take up an absolute minimum of subscribers' time. Because of its independence,OTR-Group has acquired a reputation to "say it like it is".
Benefits
The service will help users in particular to:
The Research Group Membership is specifically aimed at senior management including CFOs, CIOs, ICT directors, ICT strategy managers and business managers involved in making ICT investment decisions. OTR-Group's mission is to keep senior executives up-to-date on key ICT topics and issues and to provide outstanding clarity, insight and candour. We specialise in analysing the impact of new technologies from a business point of view. For example, in what circumstances will value be added, how much of a return is likely and what will be the organisational consequences of implementing something new?
We provide one of three straightforward answers, supported by case studies and actual examples:
1 A real business advantage! - invest now.
2 Wait! - let the early adopters prove the case first.
3 Stop! - a transient technology or no provable business benefit.
ICT Strategy Through A Fine-Tuned And Tailor-Made Package
The Research Group is provided as a "bundled and customised" service. It includes:
- Continuous tailored monitoring to assist you with ICT investment strategies
- Advance notice of ICT opportunities and threats in the marketplace through in-depth research reports and interactive forum meetings
- Rapid (48hr) advice and review service through our panel of high-level experts
- Internal presentations and workshops
- Website access to researchers and past research.
Forum Meetings - Highly interactive workshops, where peers can openly debate about topics selected by the members and explore the latest practical experience and pioneering of others.
In-depth Research Reports - Concise, focused and clear management reports on selected topics by members.
Website Report Library - Extensive research library of research findings and previous research reports.
Advisory & Review Services - Rapid service from our panel of senior consultants, covering strategies and budgets in particular. These include:
- Quickscan
- Second Opinion
- Sounding Board Session
- ICT Budget Review
- Network Audit And Assessment
- Project Review
- Virtual Teams' And Mobile/Flexible Organisations' Performance Review
- Internal Presentation And Workshop.
Rapid, Clear And Independent
The activities are designed to be delivered rapidly with exceptional clarity and to take up an absolute minimum of subscribers' time. Because of its independence,OTR-Group has acquired a reputation to "say it like it is".
Benefits
The service will help users in particular to:
- Minimise the risks often associated with implementing ICT solutions
- Discover new revenue streams
- Make successful strategic decisions
- Shorten the time required to maintain and update tactical and strategic plans
- Improve the understanding of how to control and reduce ICT costs
- Improve the understanding of key issues in the ICT market
- Increase your awareness of system and vendor options.
1. Knowledge Management
The full report entitled "What are the latest developments in knowledge management for large organisations?" is designed to give an overview of how and why large organisations are managing their knowledge resources to obtain beneficial results. The report is aimed at CIOs, finance directors, marketing and sales directors and any other senior executives needing to make investment decisions about managing corporate knowledge.
2. Trends In ICT Infrastructure
This report is aimed at companies or organisations interested in a cost-effective alternative to their in-house ICT infrastructure or considering a major upgrade. By examining planned investments and recent technology advances, the report establishes the trends in ICT infrastructure spending. It is of special interest to those organisations who consider that maintaining a cost-effective and flexible ICT infrastucture is crucial to the way they operate or how they intend to grow their business.
3. ICT Technologies Likely To Have Impact
The full report takes into consideration the migration of consumer-based technologies into the corporate world. Today, with the radical development of technologies that have narrowed the business cycle to less than ten years, organisations are looking at home and consumer-based technologies as a way to bolster business. In fact, in recent years we have seen innovations within personalised business devices such as PDAs and Smartphones. As such, these have become effective tools for organisations. However, the migration of consumer-to-business electronic devices is more far-reaching. The full report is intended to be read by CEOs, CIOs and any senior managers involved in making financial decisions.
4. Biometric Authentication Devices
The full report examines the many forms of biometric authentication already in use and, for the foreseeable future, which authentication devices and applications are likely to remain a waste of time and money. The report is aimed at organisations interested in the devices and technologies most likely to provide realistic and affordable biometric authentication.
5. Offshore Outsourcing
This report examines the topic of ICT-related, offshore outsourcing and examines the experience of those who have tried out this approach. Its objective is to enable organisations to decide if the option is viable for them and, if so, to provide a realistic view as to how well it is likely to work out as well as the likely financial returns.
6. Benchmarking
The report examines the experience of organisations in their use of benchmarking both internal ICT departments and outsourcers. The objective is to reveal where benchmarking works and in what circumstances. It is also to show where the activity is likely to be a waste of money.
7. New Ways Of Integration
The research is aimed at those managers who will have to authorise investment in systems integration. It examines what is going on in order to give a senior decision-maker an overview of what turns out to be a complicated reality. The objective is to stop them signing off "leaps into the dark" and to persuade them that in-company, genuinely-expert help is absolutely crucial.
8. ICT Governance
The report examines what needs to be done to show that the ICT function is not only correctly placed within the organisation and managed well but is an effective partner in the increasingly important area of corporate governance. The objective of the report is to show what actions need to be undertaken and what is broad, best practice.
9. Virtual Teams
The report is aimed at those who either intend to or are already in the process of implementing virtual teams. Its objectives are to show the specific management measures that are necessary to make them work and to describe the information and communications technology needed to support them.
The full report entitled "What are the latest developments in knowledge management for large organisations?" is designed to give an overview of how and why large organisations are managing their knowledge resources to obtain beneficial results. The report is aimed at CIOs, finance directors, marketing and sales directors and any other senior executives needing to make investment decisions about managing corporate knowledge.
2. Trends In ICT Infrastructure
This report is aimed at companies or organisations interested in a cost-effective alternative to their in-house ICT infrastructure or considering a major upgrade. By examining planned investments and recent technology advances, the report establishes the trends in ICT infrastructure spending. It is of special interest to those organisations who consider that maintaining a cost-effective and flexible ICT infrastucture is crucial to the way they operate or how they intend to grow their business.
3. ICT Technologies Likely To Have Impact
The full report takes into consideration the migration of consumer-based technologies into the corporate world. Today, with the radical development of technologies that have narrowed the business cycle to less than ten years, organisations are looking at home and consumer-based technologies as a way to bolster business. In fact, in recent years we have seen innovations within personalised business devices such as PDAs and Smartphones. As such, these have become effective tools for organisations. However, the migration of consumer-to-business electronic devices is more far-reaching. The full report is intended to be read by CEOs, CIOs and any senior managers involved in making financial decisions.
4. Biometric Authentication Devices
The full report examines the many forms of biometric authentication already in use and, for the foreseeable future, which authentication devices and applications are likely to remain a waste of time and money. The report is aimed at organisations interested in the devices and technologies most likely to provide realistic and affordable biometric authentication.
5. Offshore Outsourcing
This report examines the topic of ICT-related, offshore outsourcing and examines the experience of those who have tried out this approach. Its objective is to enable organisations to decide if the option is viable for them and, if so, to provide a realistic view as to how well it is likely to work out as well as the likely financial returns.
6. Benchmarking
The report examines the experience of organisations in their use of benchmarking both internal ICT departments and outsourcers. The objective is to reveal where benchmarking works and in what circumstances. It is also to show where the activity is likely to be a waste of money.
7. New Ways Of Integration
The research is aimed at those managers who will have to authorise investment in systems integration. It examines what is going on in order to give a senior decision-maker an overview of what turns out to be a complicated reality. The objective is to stop them signing off "leaps into the dark" and to persuade them that in-company, genuinely-expert help is absolutely crucial.
8. ICT Governance
The report examines what needs to be done to show that the ICT function is not only correctly placed within the organisation and managed well but is an effective partner in the increasingly important area of corporate governance. The objective of the report is to show what actions need to be undertaken and what is broad, best practice.
9. Virtual Teams
The report is aimed at those who either intend to or are already in the process of implementing virtual teams. Its objectives are to show the specific management measures that are necessary to make them work and to describe the information and communications technology needed to support them.
Research Group