This independent guide from The Register looks at how and why organizations should plan for a future of 'systems agility.'

One one of the most common complaints about IT is that it always seems to take too long and cost too much to implement. This highlights the value of flexibility and responsiveness, which some refer to as ‘systems agility’.

The danger is that when grand notions of ‘the agile enterprise’ or ‘the agile data center’ are presented within the industry, they seem too far removed from the real world in which we live and are therefore ignored. Agility can be introduced incrementally, however, if the appropriate mindset and approach are adopted.

Key points: - IT vendor marketeers and industry analysts often paint agile computing visions that are idealistic and essentially unachievable for the majority of organizations

- Selective and manageable adoption of virtualization, SOA and alternative sourcing options can make a tangible difference to service levels and performance

- Key to success is an effective service oriented approach to operations and management that puts the focus on services rather than systems

- The bottom line is that significant benefits can be realized, provided organizations set their own agenda and don’t get too distracted by vendor and analyst theory and hype