The Myths of Automation TSAM 2017 The Myths of Automation The shadow business architecture and how to really help your business Matthew Oakeley March 2017

The Myths of Automation The whole experience often isn’t great for many users

What are the Myths? They are all statements that might be true… “Our systems run our business” “We need to implement a new system. It will save me 2 FTE” “All we need is more data… Get me some Data Scientists and a Hadoop Cluster!” “It’s just about workflow – get a tool and we can automate most of this away” “Best of Breed gives me the right tools – after that it is just plumbing” “Single systems are better than Best of Breed – bring me Aladdin!” “Digital Transformation will streamline everything” They are all statements that might be true…

What is the Reality? Systems do manage a lot of what we do… but there is a lot that hides in the shadows Automated workflows are more complicated than manual ones Systems needs specialists to create, implement, manage, support, upgrade and adapt them This is why automation is almost always bigger than you first expected The costs and complexities of automation must be worth it (Blockchain discussion anyone?)

This is clearly nonsense Big Data… … the truth is out there! There is a general assumption that to harness Data for investment, all you need is: Lots of data… … and a good-sized cauldron. You add a bay leaf and sprig of thyme… … and say the incantations: Out will come truths and insight This is clearly nonsense

I’m not really knocking Big Data But long before you get to ‘Data Science’ in all its grandeur We need to think about the small stuff.

That shadow architecture… We like our neat architecture diagrams… The reality is often that lots of materials are produced manually If you think they don’t do it at your firm, your firm is marvellous… or you are misinformed Custom attribution? Portfolio analysis? OMS Direct reporting to clients from investment team? Ad-hoc extracts? Custom reports? Requests to Client Ops? Data Warehouse Client Reporting Marketing materials? RFP Responses? Formal Fund Documents

The truth is… A Monster People get asked to produce things The systems don’t always make this easy Getting IT to develop it is too hard (or you aren’t important enough to get on the list) You don’t know where to get the data from… So you do the best you can. And over time we collectively create A Monster

Is the IT guy really being rude about IT systems?? No

What can you do? Think about enabling people Recognise that people need to solve problems If the systems don’t help, they will go round them Think about enabling people

A Final thought The Digital Workplace is about people Make your solutions focus on how to make their jobs easier

Thank You