Shows
Enterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 26 - AI Dev Tools: What Automation Leaders Need to KnowDan Twing and Tom O'Rourke are joined by Pete Goldin (DevOps Digest). Dan and Pete discuss their recent survey of AI development and DevOps tools. The research shows high adoption rates of AI-native development tools with broad use of AI integration in core processes. This early success has created cautious optimism, however, significant governance gaps exist in many organizations. Automation leaders must prepare for changes to CI/CD and release management processes, as well as different automation usage profiles as AI tools are integrated. Key PointsAI development tools have become a competitive requirementAI introduces changes that are...
2025-11-2023 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 25 - Building the Business Case for Automation InvestmentsGetting approval for new automation investments requires building a business case with a cost analysis, expected business benefit, and assessment of project complexity and risk. In this episode, Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke provideguidance on how to build a successful business case for automation initiative, highlighting the need to speak in terms of business value, particularly revenue growth, profit expansion, and customer acquisition. Their conversation includes real-world examples ranging from expanding API access to transforming business operations.Key PointsDescribe technical capabilities in terms of business services and outcomesUnderstand who is involved in...
2025-11-0326 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 24 - IBM TechXchange 2025: AI, Agents, and DevOps in TransitionIBM TechExchange 2025 featured AI, Agents, Observability and other technologies that are changing the way that developers work. In this Enterprise Automation Excellence podcast, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss Dan's learnings from the event and what these trends mean for developers, as well as the implications for automation, development and DevOps teams. A key theme is howthese new tools require rethinking development processes, with a particular focus on the need for guardrails and check points for systems that are relying on non-deterministic AI as part of the solution. Key PointsAI-Assisted development to...
2025-10-2221 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 23 - The Evolution of Enterprise Automation: AI, Observability, and OrchestrationEnterprise automation is entering a new era defined by convergence. AI, observability, and orchestration are reshaping how automation platforms operate and how IT organizations deliver reliability and agility. While vendors move rapidly toward orchestration control planes, enterprise adoption remains measured and pragmatic—focused on governance, integration, and operational stability. Drawing on insights from EMA’s ongoing 2025 Workload Automation and Orchestration Radar research, this episode explores how automation teams can evolve to lead in this new landscape.Key PointsAgentic AI expands—not replaces—centralized orchestration.The “silo first, then centralize” pattern continues to define autom...
2025-10-0621 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 22 - Automation Data: A Critical Source of Truth for the EnterpriseWhile much of the focus on the value of automation systems is on the consistent and reliable execution of the schedule, the data within the automation system can also be valuable to the organization. In this Enterprise Automation Excellencepodcast, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke explore how automation systems serve as critical sources of truth for business operations. They explain that automation teams manage key data repositories that become the singleauthoritative record for business processes. The discussion covers the challenges of maintaining data quality, the security risks involved, and the growing importance of this data for AI and analytics...
2025-09-2321 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 21 - From Delegates to Decision-Makers: How AI Agents Redefine AutomationDan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss the evolution from traditional agents to AI-powered agents in enterprise automation software. While automation agents originally served as proxies for remote system operations, AI agents now bring capabilities that enables generative and adaptive responses. Their discussion positions AI agents as an evolution rather than revolution in automation, offering enhanced decision-making capabilities while following similar architectural patterns as traditional agents. Automation leaders should prepare for integration with enterprise systems that have adopted AI agent capabilities, requiring the same coordination, governance and control ofsystems that may have unanticipated behaviors. Key Points...
2025-09-0825 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 20 - Automation Migrations: When to Switch and How to SucceedIn this episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke explore the challenges of migrating automation software. They discuss the business and technical drivers for switching to a different automation tool, what makes these projects difficult, and why migration is occurring more frequently. Key PointsMigration frequency is increasing: Average time on workload automation tools has dropped from 12-15 years to just 4-5 years, reflecting market changes and rapid technology evolutionMultiple drivers force migration decisions: Key catalysts include cloud capabilities, pricing changes, product limitations, integration gaps, vendor roadmap misalignment, and operational consolidation needsIntegration complexity and heavy API use creates "s...
2025-08-2521 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 19 - Automation Without Fear: A Practitioner’s JourneyRoy Dreyfus, Senior Director of IT at Market America, discusses his 14-year automation journey with Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke on the Enterprise Automation Excellence Podcast. Roy shares how Market America has evolved from basic, disconnected automation tools to a sophisticated orchestration platform using HCL Workload Automation (HWA). Market America is now transitioning to HCL's new AI-powered Uno platform, which combines automation with artificial intelligence capabilities.Key PointsEvolution from Basic to Advanced Automation: Market America transformed from using simple automation tools starting in 2016 to implementing enterprise-wide orchestration platformsStrategic Vendor Partnership: - After...
2025-08-0821 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 18 - Turning AI Hype into Automation Strategy with Product ThinkingA successful automation strategy requires moving beyond technology-focused thinking to business outcome-driven approaches, with AI serving as an enabler rather than an end goal.In this Enterprise Automation Excellence episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke present a strategic framework that moves beyond technology-focused approaches to business outcome-driven automation planning. Key PointsOperational Maturity - Improving your organization's process maturity will help shift from a reactive, task-focused model to a predictive and dynamic automation that will contribute to business transformation.AI as an Enabler - Artificial intelligence should be t...
2025-07-2522 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 17 - AI in Automation: Hype, Reality, and What Comes NextIn this Enterprise Automation Excellence episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss AI's impact on enterprise automation and orchestration. Dan takes a more optimistic stance while Tom adopts a pragmatic perspective on AI adoption timelines. They recognize that AI technologies like neural networks and machine learning are already deployed in enterprise environments, and that the current focus is on new capabilities like Large Language Models (LLMs) and agentic AI. The hosts agree that current AI implementations in automation tools are being driven by vendor marketing rather than customer demand, with many products adding A...
2025-07-1822 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 16 - Breaking New Ground: The Biggest Changes to EMA's Automation Radar in 16 YearsIn this episode of the Enterprise Automation Excellence podcast, Dan Twing and Tom O’Rourke dive into the 2025 EMA Radar for Workload Automation and Orchestration—the most significant overhaul in the Radar’s 16-year history.They explore how three foundational technology shifts—orchestration, observability, and AI/agentic capabilities—are reshaping the automation landscape. Vendors are advancing unevenly across these areas, creating a patchwork of strengths that reflect both customer priorities and technical readiness. From data pipelines and container orchestration to AI-driven workflows and the evolving role of legacy capabilities, this conversation maps where the market is going—and what lea...
2025-07-0323 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 15 - Product Thinking: Transforming Automation TeamsIn the second half of their focus on product thinking hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss how automation teams can apply product thinking principles to shift from operating reactively as service providers into a strategic-minded,customer value-focused organization.Key themes include managing automation asa product portfolio, developing strategic roadmaps, implementing iterative planning processes, and building compelling business cases for automation investments. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs through frameworks like "Jobs to Be Done" and Value Proposition Canvas, while providing practical guidance on piloting product thinking initiatives and securing funding for automation improvements.
2025-06-2028 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 14 – Introducing Product Thinking for Automation LeadersIn this Enterprise Automation Excellence episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke explore how automation teams can adopt "product thinking" to better serve business needs and stakeholders. Rather than focusing solely on technology delivery, product thinking shifts the emphasis to understanding customer problems and working backward to solutions. This approach helps automation leaders move from reactive, ad-hoc service delivery to strategic, value-driven automation portfolios that align with business outcomes and demonstrate the importance of automation to business activities.Key TakeawaysStart with the job to be done, not the requested tool or technology....
2025-05-3027 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 13 - Automation MyopiaIn this Enterprise Automation Excellence episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss "automation myopia" - the problem of defining automation needs too narrowly, leading to suboptimal tool selection. They explore how development teams often focus on solving a narrow set of automation requirements, rather than considering end-to-end processes. The hosts advocate for broader thinking that considers operational requirements, business needs, and regulatory concerns beyond just a project’s technical requirements. They recommend wrapping specialized tools within enterprise-wide orchestration systems to maintain visibility of the complete business process while still leveraging the capabilities of specialized automation tools.Key Po...
2025-05-0123 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 12 - Observability’s Role in Smarter AutomationIn this episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss the relationship between observability and automation in enterprise systems. They explore how observability tools and standards like OpenTelemetrycan improve automation orchestration by providing visibility into the entire business process ecosystem. The hosts note that while observability technology is still in early stages for automation, it represents a significant opportunity to enhance orchestration capabilities, reduce downtime, and provide actionable business insights beyond technical metrics. They emphasize the need for standards development and collaboration between automation and observability teams.Key FindingsObservability is defined as "...
2025-04-2123 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 11 - Change Management and AutomationIn this episode, hosts Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss the complex relationship between change management and automation. They explore how these two control functions must work together despite their inherent tensions--automation requires stability to function reliably, while modern business environments demand frequent changes. The conversation examines how automation teams navigate changes from multiple sources: application updates, infrastructure changes, automation tool updates, citizen developers, and external vendors. The hosts emphasize the need for balanced governance that enables business agility while maintaining system integrity, noting that emerging technologies like AI will further complicate this balance while potentially offering future solutions.
2025-04-0726 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 10 - AI and Observability in Workload Automation and OrchestrationDan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss EMA's latest research report titled "The Future of Workload Automation and Orchestration: Driving Digital Transformation with Orchestration and Generative AI". The hosts explore the evolving landscape of workload automation, highlighting how it has become a central hub for orchestration across enterprises. The conversation covers key trends including growth in the number of jobs, staffing and skill challenges, the rise of observability, and the impact of AI on automation strategies. The research shows workload automation tools are evolving into enterprise-wide orchestration platforms that connect business processes beyond just technical automations.Key FindingsContinued...
2025-03-0421 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEp. 9 – Balancing Control and Innovation: The Modern Automation Center of ExcellenceThis episode discusses the role and evolution of Automation Centers of Excellence (CoE) in enterprises. The hosts, Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke, explore how CoEs have become critical organizational structures for managing automation
initiatives, discussing how CoEs serve as knowledge-sharing hubs, bridge gaps between technical teams and citizen developers, and help standardize automation
practices.
Key Points
-CoEs are an organizational pattern found in large enterprises to coordinate important cross-group initiatives by streamlining the sharing of technical and organizational knowledge
-The majority of automation organizations have either formal or informal CoEs
-CoEs' r...
2025-01-3021 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 8 - Five Key Trends from Gartner I&O 2024: AI, Automation, and the Evolution of Technical LeadershipDan and Tom discuss Tom's observations and learnings from the 2024 Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies conference in Las Vegas.
AI and improving Infrastructure & Operations (I&O) leadership were key themes, with sessions addressing strategic and tactical approaches for technology, business, and staffing issues.
The I&O outlook for 2025 and beyond was optimistic, while acknowledging executive frustrations with the increasing costs of cloud, failures of major projects, and the disruptions generated from CVEs and other security events.
Key Ideas
- **Generative AI**: Gartner believes that we are still in the early days with respect to...
2025-01-1026 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 7 - Balancing the Scales: Citizen Developers and Centralized OrchestrationDan has returned from Italy where he participated in an HCL Automation customer event focused on orchestration of business processes as an integrated element of a centralized automation solution.
HCL has embraced orchestration as encompassing business process automation as an extension of traditional job scheduling and workload automation, leveraging the centralized automation team and controls that exist in many organizations.
HCL announced the 2nd generation of their Universal Orchestrator product, integrating with the other elements of their Automation Orchestrator Suite.
Key Ideas:
- Automation continues to increase in strategic importance, over 40% of IT executives...
2024-12-3020 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 6 - Automation Excellence in 2025: What Should Be On Your Radar?We're most of the way through 2024 and it's time to start thinking about plans for next year. In many cases, the budget has already been set, but it's still important to think through what your priorities will be and how to allocate time for yourself and your team.
Important Trends:
* Digital Transformation – 70% of organizations are in the midst of transformation efforts, relying heavily on automation services to achieve their digitization goals
* Cloud Migration – Increasing push toward multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, strategic focus on SaaS applications
* Expanding Automation User Base – Growing emphasis on citizen developers, business teams...
2024-11-2524 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 5 - Cybersecurity 101 for Automation LeadersChris Steffen joins the EAE podcast to discuss how
automation teams can collaborate with security teams to maintain a secure, resilient environment.
Enterprise automation is expected to orchestrate critical
processes 24x7x365. Automation teams must address risks from infrastructure failures and security vulnerabilities in their tools and environments.
Key Ideas
- Automation systems carry high risk due to their
critical role and extensive integrations across business, analytics, and operations.
- Cloud and SaaS foundations still require
automation teams to understand configurations for reliability.
- Business-critical automation systems often
demand 99.999...
2024-11-1323 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 4 - Mainframe Modernization clears the path for Digital TransformationBuilding on the learnings from a recent EMA survey on mainframe modernization initiatives, we discuss where these initiatives fit into enterprise activities and what automation teams should consider when involved in these efforts.
Key Ideas
- Business transformation and technology portfolio modernization efforts are occurring in many organizations
- These initiatives have become a core part of how businesses evolve to meet customer expectations and grow into new markets
- In the past, many technology teams took an incremental "just enough modernization" approach to limit costs and risk, however, this can be insufficient where dramatic...
2024-10-3121 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 3 - BMC Connect 2024 - The Split Announcement and Conference Learnings
In this episode, we explore BMC's recent decision to split
into two companies, a strategic shift announced shortly before BMC Connect 2024. We break down what this means for the future of BMC and its customers, diving into the key updates from the conference, including exciting innovations from BMC's Innovation Labs, the latest on HelixGPT the Change Risk Advisor, and Helix Edge.
We also discuss what BMC's business changes mean for the automation ecosystem, and insights from automation users currently undertaking mainframe modernization efforts.
Tune in as we discuss how these developments will shape the future of AI, automati...
2024-10-2123 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 2 - Orchestration
Enterprise Automation Excellence Podcast: Episode 2 - Orchestration
Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss the increasing use of the word "Orchestration" in the automation space, considering whether it reflects a relabeling of existing concepts or an evolution of the automation landscape. They look at how automation's use has expanded from technology operations to business process management and how orchestration enables more complex use cases via delegation of task management to specialized scheduling solutions.
Key Points:
- Orchestration is an evolution in IT automation, enabling the management of more complex processes across...
2024-09-3020 minEnterprise Automation ExcellenceEpisode 1 - Welcome and CrowdStrike OutageEnterprise
Automation Excellence Podcast: Episode 1 - Welcome
Dan Twing and Tom O'Rourke discuss the goals and scope for the Enterprise Automation Excellence podcast, then discuss the learnings that automation leaders should take from the CloudStrike outage this past July.
EAE Podcast Home: https://em360tech.com/podcast-series/enterprise-automation-excellence
Feedback and Questions: eaepodcast@emausa.com
EMA Cybersecurity Awesomeness Podcast - Episode 72 (CloudStrike): https://media.transistor.fm/cb00ae8d/0932d549.mp3
2024-09-1721 min