Read this Interview with Dr. Ulrich Kalex, from Software AG, one of our Speakers, for Enterprise Architecture Live.
BTOES Insights Question: Briefly describe your job role in your organization, and what your top priorities are right now?
Dr. Ulrich Answer:
As Senior Vice President of Product Line Management and R&D, I am responsible for product strategy to execution of Software AG’s Alfabet product for enterprise architecture and strategic portfolio management. My team’s top priority has always been to enable customers to gain competitive advantage through superior understanding of enterprise architecture realities in combination with strategic portfolio management and planning. Currently, we are putting special emphasis on helping customers accelerate their transformation to an architecture-led agile enterprise.
BTOES Insights Question: What do you expect to be the most critical initiatives you (or your clients) need to focus on over the next 12 months?
Dr. Ulrich Answer:
The events of 2020 demonstrated the necessity of being able to participate in the digital economy to withstand certain types of business disruption. Our clients are focusing more – if they haven’t already – on innovation to accelerate the creation and advancement of digital products and services. They are working to align the organization in becoming more agile and able to identify market opportunities to make their digital business effort sustainable. They strive to excel in the delivery of high-quality digital products and services that can raise customer experience and retention. Software AG’s critical initiatives focus on providing the products they need to achieve this.
Dr. Ulrich Answer:
Digital transformation is the unchangeable factor for success in many industries today. To do this effectively, there needs to be collaboration across diverse sets of stakeholders to gain a common understanding of strategic objectives and desired business outcomes. The organization needs to move forward in a coordinated thrust towards the new business and operating models digital is demanding. Further, speed is critical in “first-mover” markets. Accelerating planning and decision-making capabilities to further reduce time to market for digital products and services in important. Also, establishing better and faster feedback loops and improving the organization’s ability to take corrective action need to be priorities. These needs are driving Alfabet’s roadmap and will certainly continue to do so for the next two years.
About the Speaker
Dr. Ulrich Kalex,
SVP Product Management / R&D,
Software AG.
Dr. Ulrich Kalex is responsible for the product strategy, roadmap and development execution for Software AG’s Alfabet product line. Under his aegis, Software AG has contributed significantly to defining and shaping the EA, Strategic IT Planning and Portfolio Management markets.