Business leaders typically hold IT organizations responsible for implementing software systems as a way to run the business. This sounds like a reasonable expectation. But what if instead of "running the business," software systems were considered the means to making business processes more profitable or, in a larger sense, more valuable? In the latter case, software is integrated with the value stream that flows from the company into the consumer space. Leveraging Michael Porter's notion of the value chain, this months' cover story introduces a new approach to governance that links business value and operational efficiency within an enterprise architecture.
We also present a testing strategy designed for agile environments, ways to stay agile in a troubled economy, and a primer on software security focused on system vulnerabilities.
Find these articles and much more by clicking on the "Contents" tab above, and don't forget our Archives in the navigation bar at left.
Introducing IBM Rational Self Check for Software Teams, by Per Kroll and William Krebs
Read how the new IBM Rational Self Check for Software Teams can help you implement self assessments to help improve team agility. Instead of metrics, or assessments performed by those outside the team, Self Check empowers software engineers by allowing them to define and discuss their own significant data and improve their process.
Cover story:Governing your value stream: A foundation for lower IT costs and increased returns, by Andrew Phillipson
This article explains how the formation of a value stream through an IT organization (the linking of value chains and supply chains) is accomplished through the application of deliberate IT governance and project and portfolio management practices.
An agile experience report: A model for system test,
by Mary Ellen Kerr, Curt J. Rousse, Donna P. Dynes, and Dave Booz
Many companies are embracing agile development practices as a way to improve the quality and timely delivery of their products. How to best execute a system test strategy in an agile development environment is a question every company and team may want to answer.
Staying Agile in an uncertain economy, by Roger Dunn
If you're experiencing a climate where management may be pulling back from Agile and moving towards more traditional, plan-driven methods, you will want to be able to defend the economic benefits of Agile with sound, management-oriented business cases. This article describes how.
Application lifecycle management with ClearQuest 7.1.0.0: Part 3, by Carolyn Pampino and Robert Pierce
This overview of the concepts and design goals behind an out-of-the-box application lifecycle management (ALM) solution for IBM Rational ClearQuest illustrates the benefits of using ClearQuest and the ALM package as your change management (CM) solution. The third of a three-part series, this article discusses administration annd security requirements, along with tips for getting started and integrating ClearQuest ALM into your environment.
Webcasts, tutorials, demos, and more: April 2008, by The Rational Marketing Team
These dynamic, Web-based tutorials, demos, and trial downloads will introduce new concepts or help refresh your knowledge base. Check out this extensive listing of IBM Rational Web-based resources.
New Ready-for-Rational partner solutions!
The following solutions have been validated in the Ready for IBM Rational software offering. You can view more details on all the solutions at Plug-in Central.
CAST App Intelligence Platform
SureLogic Sierra
WebLayers Center
BSD Group EMC Documentum Extension for Rational Performance Tester
Ascendant Technology WICA for Build Forge
SourceIQ Enterprise Server
Infragistics TestAdvantage for Windows Forms (for IBM Rational Functional Tester)
