Telenor Internet Economy Project Research into Cloud Computing Generative Internet Clusters Ben Eaton 21/10/2012
Objective To describe the outline of a programme of research 2 yr programme of research sponsored by Telenor ASA Current status: In Definition Tentative Research Question: What management challenges arise when migrating complex information infrastructures from the organisation to the cloud? What are the implications of this move on an organisation s capacity to innovate?
Convergence of Research Interest Jarle: Innovation on the Cloud Ben: Platform Innovation Telenor: Cloud Computing Something interesting to research Ole: Information Infrastructures
Platform Innovation What Enables and What Constrains Platform Innovation 45 instances of contested platform innovation on Apple s ios A process of dialectics between platform owner and 3 rd party developer Propelled by a dialogic relationship between forces of control and generativity Originating in mechanisms of: Control: Apple s Apps Approval Process Overcoming Control: Developer Strategies Untangling the Paradox of Control and Generativity: Creative Tension to Stimulate Innovation
Towards a Theory of Information Infrastructures A Theories of Information Infrastructures (Evolution & Design) Assemblage Theory Process Strategies Architecture Governance Complexity Science Actor Network Theory Reflexive Modernisation
Telenor s Strategic Areas for Resesearch Cloud Computing Cloud Services Brokerage "consolidating 3rd party technical and commercial interfaces into one on behalf of cloud service consumers Gartner "an entity that manages the use, performance, and delivery of cloud services and negotiates relationships between cloud providers and cloud consumers. - NIST
What does a Cloud Broker Do? "The objective of Cloud Service Brokerage is to manage the complexity of the growing number and type of multi-enterprise (information systems) integrations... seamlessly integrating hundres of external business partners with internal business applications, processes, services, and data" Paul J. Stamas VP, IT Mohawk Fine Papers, NY
Our Common Interest Tensions of stability and change in complex information infrastructures As they migrate from implementations within and across organisations to the cloud
. Let s contextualise the research problem some more
The problem has its origins in The variety and complexity of a typical organisation s portfolio of information systems Variety of enterprise apps & back office solutions Complicated by organisational change & evolution Requiring Coordination and Integration Old News.. Yawn
Further complicated by migrating to the cloud Single Cloud SP solutions lack range The use of multiple Cloud SPs the norm The migration of complexity from within the organisation to across multiple Cloud SPs, each with: Different APIs Different Architectures Different Methodologies Thousands of Documentation
In addition different clouds have different SLAs: Standards for data translation & tranformation Service availability & disaster recovery System scalability (resources & bandwidth) Service performance & latency Data Security & compliance to regulation
Added complexities have the potential to negate the benefits that Cloud Computing was supposed to deliver in the first place! Photo (fictitious) of a CIO reacting to the news that the migration of his enterprise systems to a multi provider Cloud Computing solution has just added extra complexity to his life.
Enter the Cloud Broker Multiple cloud SPs Enterprise Cloud Broker Enterprise aggregates or consolidate multiple cloud SPs single interface to cloud SPs & services single set of coherent uniform services VAS e.g. business intelligence reports acts independently of cloud SPs can provide expertise with respect to integration
Implications w.r.t. to II theory The migration of systems from in house solutions to the Cloud present clear issues w.r.t The management of architectural integration and complexity Process Strategies Governance
Implications w.r.t. to II theory
Implications w.r.t. to innovation Cloud Broker #1 Enterprise Cloud Broker #2 Cloud Broker #3 Different cloud SPs
Implications w.r.t. to innovation Cloud Broker #1 Enterprise Cloud Broker #2 Cloud Broker #3 Cloud Brokers act as a lens, bringing into focus certain opportunities for innovation, whilst putting others out of focus Generative Internet Clusters Orphan Different cloud SPs
Tentative Research Question What management challenges arise when migrating complex information infrastructures from the organisation to the cloud? What are the implications of this move on an organisation s capacity to innovate?
Tentative Thoughts on Research Design Time Frame 2yrs Multiple case studies of migration of systems to Cloud ideally with broker At least one case based in Norway Application of II theories
Questions