Open Architecture - A Plea For Action

Today’s global microprocessor architecture is a closed architecture, and most likely your enterprise is also. Characteristics include ; a rising cost structure, supply shortages, significant premium pricing, etc. You may have not have noticed these characteristics being that the microprocessor is an imbedded component. Is your enterprise comprised of a single microprocessor vendor ? Is your supply chain also ? It has been the conclusion of the Open Architecture (OA) Project that the key to moving the global microprocessor market to a Open Architecture has to do with several new and appropriate changes in the commercial enterprise desktop procurement practice.

My name is Mark Moore I am an independent analyst for the OA project and have provided its thought leadership from the beginning. I previously worked for AMD, was a VP for a 3D graphics IPO and prior to that spent several years as an IT executive with a very large government enterprise. The purpose of this communiqué is to engage with several F500 desktop procurement programs to effect changes, which bring significant value(s) to the enterprise and the global infrastructure.

A brief overview, The Open Architecture Project began in the government sector in 2000 : Several leading CIO’s clearly recognized the existing attributes of a globally closed microprocessor architecture and the role of the enterprise procurement expression in maintaining that status quo. A globally closed architecture begins with the enterprise IT standards statement naming a single vendor, which then flows down into the desktop procurement expression and out to the marketplace. Recognizing the enterprise TCO value(s) for the current accepted practices we set forth to perform case studies to see if we could open the microprocessor architecture.

The results are significant : The OA project established that the enterprise could open the microprocessor standards statement and achieve greater value(s) while improve upon the existing TCO equation :

"Having worked in IT for 30 years, on this project since 2000, it is evident in the microprocessor area that the single vendor policy statements are holding back tremendous value(s) for our enterprises, and especially the global infrastructure.

Preferably we would all like to see a completely vendor neutral position in the process of ordering new machines. However, the industry currently does not afford us this opportunity. The natural open architecture progression is to name a second vendor and then a third as soon as possible. My involvement initially was an attempt to save my enterprise $ 200 per desktop, and I am thrilled to say I have seen results at that level and higher.

In three years I have yet to see an instance or an argument that holds up for maintaining a closed architecture, single vendor, policy statement for the microprocessor."

Steven A. Steinbrecher
Retired CIO, County of Contra Costa

"The entire OA value proposition for the enterprise is one of depth and breadth. The aforementioned dollar values are comprised from the smallest segments. The community and global value(s) which can be driven from a change in the enterprise IT procurement expression are enormous. Regardless of your current microprocessor competitive alignment I highly recommend that you consider opening the IT policy statement and look closely at these new procurement practices.

"The Open Architecture model was introduced to address the liabilities of a closed, non-competitive procurement environment- in this case at the microprocessor level. In working with many enterprises who changed to an open approach it proved to spur competition and choice and thereby effect significant cost savings. The larger community and global advantages are potentially enormous. Consider opening your IT policy statement and procurement practices to achieve the benefits available through open architecture procurement."

Jon Fyffe
Associate Publisher Government Technology Magazine

For the past 18 months the OA project has focused on crafting new commercial IT microprocessor standard and procurement tactics that include a second vendor. We have successfully shifted the protectorate TCO measures from the policy level and moved them into the procurement function. With this new leeway we have created new procurement practices that we would like to share with your enterprise :

- How to open the microprocessor Policy/Standards
-Creating the OA desktop for maximum competitive value
-The Enterprise OA Microprocessor Integration Path
-The OA Vendor Grading Variable

The aforementioned value(s) in excess of $100 per desktop are a prudent value to be attained by these new practices. To draw a comparison to the global value : In the last 15 years, as individuals, each of us has walked into a computer store looking for improved value and we asked for and looked for microprocessor competition. We had the same desire, better value and the same concern, personal TCO. Some of us found competing stores and some stores changed very quickly. The results for the global marketplace were phenomenal ; there is no questioning of that. Now it is time for the enterprise procurement expression to do the same.

The Open Architecture Project now requests from you an initial conversation to discuss in more detail the OA practices in relationship to your desktop procurement program. We want to share with you all of the information that is available. It is our endeavor to seek out and publish case studies regarding these new techniques if you approve. The OA project can be contacted at the following email address : oa@austin.rr.com