About Us : Downloads : White Papers and Points of View

Abstract : CIOs are faced with increasing challenges in today’s competitive and economically challenging environment—most CIOs have a keen interest in using IT for cost and productivity improvements, increasing business agility, and improving customer experience.

Abstract : Agile software development is receiving increasing attention from information technology (IT) organizations globally. With its emphasis on lightweight processes, high-quality deliverables, flexibility to deal with changing business priorities, short delivery cycles, higher team morale, and a host of other benefits, agile development offers a fresh approach to businesses seeking greater agility in their software engineering processes.

Abstract : In a nutshell, hothousing creates an environment where ideas compete, are rapidly evaluated against each other and dismissed in favor of the winning idea, which is then implemented. Hothousing has evolved along with other agile development techniques, such as Rapid Application Development, Joint Application Development and Agile Development, and complements them to gain significant improvements in time-to-market without sacrificing the quality of the solution. Hothousing is a technique that we employ regularly with our clients, with notable success.

Abstract : To assess how companies are using business process management (BPM) to increase innovation agility, PRTM and Virtusa surveyed 125 organizations and conducted indepth interviews with selected participants in the fall of 2007.

Abstract : Powerful, unprecedented demographic and economic trends are propelling dramatic long-term growth in the wealth management industry.At the same time, competitive forces are driving rapid productivity gains in wealth management firms. Those who leverage information technology (IT) to create business agility will be the clear winners. We believe that IT agility enables business agility, and that software platforms are the key enablers of IT agility. This paper examines the key technology components of effective software platforms – business process management (BPM), rich internet application (RIA), service-oriented architecture (SOA), and Web 2.0.

Abstract : Business process management has recently crossed the chasm that faces every new technology, and is fast becoming an indispensable tool in every CIO’s kit. BPM automates a business's process environment to improve agility and operational performance. When executed well, a BPM solution streamlines company operations within and outside its four walls, and provides flexibility to adapt to changing business rules without heavy reliance on IT.

Abstract : It might sound obvious, but one of the most important tasks of the software quality assurance life cycle is collection and analysis of test results. Lacking metrics, developers—and testers—would have no idea if they were making progress in removing software defects. Yet, as any experienced SQA specialist will testify, there is data, and then there is good data. Put another way, the old saying of there being “lies, damn lies and statistics” could have been written for the SQA discipline. While collecting data might be anything but simple, ensuring that you are collecting the right data—or interpreting it correctly—could be even more challenging.

Abstract : The software industry has witnessed a dramatic rise in the impact and effectiveness of software quality assurance recently. From its day of infancy, when a handful of software pioneers explored the first applications of quality assurance, to the development of software, software quality assurance has become integrated into all phases of software development. At Virtusa, an industry-strength QA process is an integral part of every one of our engagements. Virtusa with its expertise in SQA has developed a unique point of view with its Software Quality Assurance approach, an innovative SQA methodology that extends beyond defect reduction.

Abstract : From perhaps the beginning of software, IT organizations have been criticized for their poor productivity. Reports, such as the Standish Group's well-publicized Chaos Studies, have popularized what has become anecdotal knowledge: that development teams consistently deliver software late, over budget and under scope. Not surprisingly, productivity continues to be a highly-charged term in the software development community. Given that systems and application maintenance consume up to 80% of the IT budget, IT organizations have little choice but to become more productive. That leaves the obvious question: what must software organizations do, or how must they change their behavior to become more productive?

Abstract : In today’s rapidly evolving competitive environment, IT organizations often struggle with the balance between the need to fully and successfully understand, evaluate, and execute technology projects and the need to be responsive and agile enough to meet business and market demands. Traditional models of proposing and planning large, complex technology projects to automate business processes don’t readily lend themselves to today’s fastpaced, results-oriented business environment. One alternative to these traditional approaches is to use Business Process Visualization (BPV) as a means to help accelerate consensus building and decision making, and to help organizations quickly achieve clarity on technology initiatives and alternatives to improve their business processes. This white paper describes the BPV concept, and how it can be tailored and applied to help organizations be more responsive and agile with new IT-based business solutions and business process improvements or re-engineering.

Abstract : Financial services institutions face unprecedented pressures, competitively and internally, to improve. An often-neglected area that is ripe for significant improvement and benefits is the account opening process. There are numerous opportunities to introduce or increase automation within account opening, using a targeted, manageable, iterative approach. Automation can offer wide-ranging improvements and benefits in areas such as customer experience and retention, costs and efficiency, and compliance. This white paper discusses how financial services institutions can approach identifying and targeting specific opportunities within the end-to-end account opening process for transformation and improvement through automation.

Abstract : Faced with downward cost pressures, CIOs and other enterprise technology leaders face two major challenges. On the one hand, they have to develop customized information technology (IT) solutions quickly to meet the needs of the business lines in today's rapidly evolving environment. On the other hand, they need a standardized and rationalized enterprise IT architecture to manage the total cost of ownership. These challenges often conflict with each other, and a CIO must perform a high-wire act to balance the business need for innovation against the technology management need for standardization.