Application Rationalization Guide: A Proven 6-Step Framework
Summary
This application rationalization guide delivers a proven six-step framework to assess application value, reduce portfolio sprawl, and improve alignment between IT systems and business strategy. It offers tools for scoring applications, evaluating total cost of ownership, and creating future-state migration plans aimed at driving modernisation and enhancing long-term IT efficiency.
Application portfolios often expand unnoticed, leading to a tangle of overlapping technologies that hinder agility and inflate budgets. This guide addresses the silent issue of software sprawl, which presents strategic liabilities and complicates critical operations such as cybersecurity and cloud migration. A disciplined approach is essential, as ad hoc decisions about tools lead to cumulative costs and inefficiencies.
The guide provides a systematic framework starting from governance and inventory building, proceeding to score applications based on business value, technical fit, and total cost of ownership. It is designed for iterative use rather than static audits, ensuring alignment with ongoing business needs and technology advancements.
Key Points
- A structured six-step framework for application rationalisation, including governance and migration strategy.
- A comprehensive methodology for evaluating applications based on business value, technical fit, and total cost of ownership.
- Practical tools like questionnaires, scoring models, and inventory templates are included for practical application.
- Governance models and engagement strategies promote informed decision-making across organisations.
- Real-world case studies highlight successful application rationalisation efforts and key lessons learned.
Why should I read this?
This article serves as a practical blueprint for CIOs and IT leaders seeking to bring clarity to fragmented IT environments. It provides actionable steps for streamlining, evaluating, and managing enterprise applications effectively, addressing the pressing need for cost control, enhanced agility, and support for digital transformation.