Combined functions

One last type of organization should be discussed. This structure incorporates IT Operations, Technical and Application Management departments into a single structure. This is sometimes the case where all groups are co-located in a single data centre. Here, the Data Centre Manager takes responsibility for all Technical, Application and IT Operations Management.

This type of organization structure is illustrated in Figure 6.10.

Figure 6.10 Centralized IT Operations, Technical and Application Management structure

In this structure, IT Operations Management is responsible for the Technical and Application Management functions, which in turn are responsible for managing their own operational activities. Each department is able to delegate some of these activities to the Operations Control department.

The advantages of this organization structure are:

• There is greater consistency and control between the more tactical and more operational Technical Management activities
• It is easier to enforce the performance standards and technical architectures that are created in Service Design, since the people who were involved in design are managing the activities of the people who are executing those activities
• As there is no duplication between location or activity, this structure is often more cost-effective.

The disadvantage of this organization structure is:

• The scope of this structure makes it very difficult to manage effectively in large organizations or in organizations with multiple Data Centres.

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 908