Software-Defined Anything is a platform for extraordinary innovation
Forbes.com has an interesting post about Gartner’s Top Ten Technology Trends for 2014, and, while I agree with virtually all of them, one jumped out at me:
Software Defined Anything.Software-defined anything (SDx) is defined by “improved standards for infrastructure programmability and data center interoperability driven by automation inherent to cloud computing, DevOps and fast infrastructure provisioning.” Dominant vendors in a given sector of an infrastructure-type may elect not to follow standards that increase competition and lower margins, but end-customer will benefit from simplicity, cost reduction opportunities, and the possibility for consolidation.
The key thought for me is that the fundamental “job to be done” is to provide end customers with “simplicity, cost reduction opportunities, and the possibility for consolidation”. This breathes new life into innovations in software (everything from routing protocols to applications) and the underlying hardware (like new GPU-based processors from Intel and nVidia). And, even better, these new cloud-based services can deliver all-new sources of value for end customers.
Far from being a commoditizing force, I think that SDx is a platform for a new wave of extraordinary innovation and value creation.
Greg is a visionary, entrepreneurial executive with broad experience in formulating effective, actionable strategies for technology-based solutions. He brings leadership skills and knowledge in strategic analysis and planning, innovation management, and strategic marketing to create customer-focused competitive advantage. His extensive industry experience in companies large and small, in industries from high tech to healthcare, in product development/management, executive management, marketing, and strategy positions gives him the experience to know what works. Greg is an adjunct professor at Duke University, where he created and teaches “Competitive Strategy in Technology-based Industries” in the Masters of Engineering Management Program. He is chairman of the NCSU Technology Incubator Advisory Board, a member of the NCSU Industrial Extension Service Advisory Board, and co-founded a venture-backed startup. Greg is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a member of the Engineering Management Society, a member of the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), and a member of the Association for Strategic Planning (ASP). He received a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Lafayette College, and a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship from Western Carolina University. Greg is an excellent and inspiring speaker, presenter and educator. He is a frequent judge at business plan competitions and hackathons, including MetLife TechJam, Triangle Startup Weekend, and case study competitions at Duke and North Carolina State Universities.
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