The IBM CUA's Business Partner Group met last month to hear senior
IBMers intone wise words. An excited Elspeth Wales reports on
developments.
A successful meeting was held in November by the CUA's recently
formed Business Partner Group, a new body which aims to help IBM
and its business partners work more closely together.
Although an initial meeting was held by the group shortly after its
formation, earlier this summer, this was the first themed event
that it has undertaken.
After consultation with group members it was clear that there was a
need for partners to meet with IBM channel executives in order for
each party to set out their own needs and objectives, and these
matters were the focus of this meeting.
Around 30 Business Partners attended the meeting to hear senior IBM
executives explain their value proposition in working with Business
Partners, what it expected from such relationships and what
Partners should expect.
IBM's software partnership policy was outlined, the current
arrangements described and a glimpse was given of what to expect in
the future. A representative from IBM Global Services then provided
an overview of what IBM aims to achieve with Business Partners in
the increasingly important services area.
Ray Titcombe, CUA chairman and a member of the BPG's committee,
said: "A lot of information channels were discussed and ways of
working reviewed with active participation by all. There was very
useful feedback to and from presenters and the audience, on
processes used and how the future business planning was going to
evolve."
The meeting achieved the objectives set, he said. "All agreed it
was a great success and many people made requests for future
meetings and outline plans were agreed. The purpose was always to
get BPs and IBM together to openly discuss BP strategy as well as
the reasons for clearly understanding all of the relationships and
ways of working. It provided a good way to clear the air regarding
future options for all."
Preparations will soon be under way for the next BPG event, which
is to be held in April 2002. This will cover IBM Finance options
and offerings and will provide a forum for the continuing review of
Business Partner relationships and communications with IBM, as well
as to further their networking opportunities.
Executive briefing
November's Executive Briefing
covered the topic of multi-vendor service levels and quality,
chosen because users often find that when a piece of kit or
software goes wrong it is hard to get a supplier to take
responsibility, and even when they do own up the level of service
does not match the price paid.
This briefing was designed to comment on this issue, and sought to
advise members as to how such matters can be resolved. Topics
covered included vendor interfaces and penalties, monitoring
quality and the user perception, how to manage multi-platform
environments in terms of service and quality, managing user
expectations of monitoring versus management, and how to use
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to manage service offerings. The
briefing was well attended and well received, said its organiser,
Geoff Petherick of the CUA.
In December Common UK, the iSeries section of the CUA, is staging a
two-day Winter Symposium,
Getting it Right with iSeries in the
E-Business World, on December 3 and 4 at the
Stratford-upon-Avon Moat House Hotel. The event is aimed at iSeries
technicians and decision makers as well as existing iSeries
customers and IBM Business Partner iSeries prospects and promises
to be an exceptionally informative event.
Want to Join the CUA?
The CUA's mission is to support
and extend the use of IT within member organisations, and to
provide members with an independent forum in which to exchange
information with their peers and an influential voice to those
organisations which shape the IT environment. By joining the CUA
you will have access to other members with similar concerns and get
the low-down on what's going on. You can find out what new
developments IBM has up its sleeve, and how they may affect you.
You can take part in forming the new shape of the CUA as it moves
forward into this new millennium. The CUA runs a regular
newsletter, monthly briefings, free legal advice, and a friendly,
efficient secretariat.
To join, or find out more, contact the secretariat on: 020 8518
5110, or visit the CUA Web site at
www.ibm-cua.org.uk