Mobile Agility and the Anytime Anywhere Impact on IT

blackboardmobile.com1

Rise of MobileIn 1997, the inaugural editors of Personal & Ubiquitous Computing shared an idea that “the paradigm shift brought about

by portable computing is simply another phase in the development of truly personal computing”1. Two years later, Hans-

Werner Gellerson, guest editor of the same journal, laid the groundwork for what we know as “mobile” by describing

portable technology and personal computing as being “seamlessly integrated with the user, tasks, and the environment”2.

What the editors effectively described in a few unassuming words is the always on, always connected, and personally

tailored environment in which we live and communicate today.

Over a decade ago, few could imagine the rapid adoption of mobile technology. In 1998, the term “mobile” was largely

limited to cellular phones, and “portable” encompassed an array of battery-powered devices that enhanced productivity –

such as portable digital assistants and laptops. These devices were connected to online resources via local area networks

and dial-up services. WiFi (ie. IEEE 802.11b) hadn’t been formally released3, so “mobile connectivity” meant at best, portable

gear physically tethered to cellular handsets.

Mobile Agility and the Anytime, Anywhere Impact on IT

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Just over a decade later, approximately 1.2 billion people

will possess tether-free mobile devices powerful enough to

deliver rich Web experiences4 and the total number of Web-

enabled mobile phones will eclipse the estimated one billion

personal computers on Earth5. And while fixed broadband

adoption in the developing world tripled in 2009, mobile

broadband penetration among the same parts of the globe

expanded by an astonishing factor of ten6. The global

volume of mobile cellular subscriptions were projected to

grow to 5.3 billion in 20107, a number – if taken at face value

– indicates that over half of the people on the planet will be

connected via a mobile device in 2011. Mobile, then, is the

emergent and arguably dominant platform for connecting

and communicating, regardless of where you are or who

you may be.

Like the Web, mobile is not a fad; it is a fundamental shift

in communication brought about by a number factors that

coalesced at the “right” time. The confluence of the Internet

and wireless, the Web and electronic communication, and

the miniaturization and commoditization of technology

created the perfect ecosystem for mobile to move into our

everyday lives.

According to the United Nations, “American teenagers

are using 3,146 [text] messages a month, which translates

into more than 10 messages every hour of the month that

they are not sleeping or in school”8. Always connected and

always on has become a part of teen culture but like so

many things, is texting simply a teen fad? The UN went

on to say that “even the under 12 segment are sending

1,146 messages per month”9. The youngest generation has

embraced mobile for communication and as such, it is no

longer an upstart technology. To this generation, mobile is a

norm like electricity, air travel, and the Internet.

Mobile is something else.

Charting a CourseIn the long term, indications are that mobile isn’t a bolt-on;

it is where things are headed10 and nowhere is this more

prevalent than in retail. The shift to mobile is obvious – to

reach today’s connected consumers, one minimally needs

to be on the Web. But to be truly effective, mobile has to

factor into the overall relationship strategy. Education isn’t

the same as retail, but what can it learn from the intensely

competitive world of the consumer marketplace?

A Web presence is much like a sign on a roadway; if it

catches your attention you may be convinced to pull over

and investigate. If not, you may take note of the business

and pass by because you don’t need that particular service

at that particular time. A mobile-enabled website extends

this experience by presenting Web content in a form

appropriate for on-the-go consumers. A mobile website is

analogous to a second sign that is added to the first sign on

the roadway. The second sign attempts to attract a differ-

ent clientele to the place of business, but in the end it is still

a sign and like the main one, can be ignored.

The youngest generation has embraced mobile for communication and as such, it is no longer an upstart technology. To this generation, mobile is a norm like electricity, air travel, and the Internet.

blackboardmobile.com

With the number of mobile devices eclipsing the number of

desktop computers on the planet, a Web presence tailored

to mobile users should factor into every organization’s

communications strategy. However, one’s mobile strategy

should not stop with the Web as mobile is in the midst of a

transformation from a discretionary entertainment vehicle

to a utility and lifestyle platform of necessity and conve-

nience11. Organizations that are recognizing this shift are

realizing the potential of mobile as a platform.

Today, many retailers are rapidly developing stand-alone

mobile applications (apps) as a means to connect with

consumers on a day-to-day basis. A downloaded mobile

app travels wherever she and her mobile device go, and

places the retail brand at the forefront of the consumer’s

experience. If well developed, the app enables the provider

to develop a personal connection with the consumer as it is

precisely available at the moment of desire or need. Or to

put it another way, there is no chance of ignoring the sign

on the roadway when the business itself is incorporated

into the dashboard – like an in-car GPS navigation system.

Education has a significant advantage over retailers as

learning experiences are built around individual relation-

ships, group collaborations, and deep connections across

affinity groups. Students, parents, staff, instructors, alumni,

donors, and fans all have myriad reasons for staying in

contact with a college, university, school, or educational

program. Whether taking a class or keeping abreast of the

latest sports scores, the community that circles a particu-

lar educational institution creates natural opportunities

for mobile services. Retailers, on the other hand, often

struggle with building these relationships as the reason

for connecting consumers may only go as far as the next

product release.

What retail demonstrates is that mobile is more than a col-

lection of technologies; it is a contemporary paradigm for

connecting, communicating, and getting things done on

mass-customized and yet personal relationship level that

extends to the devices themselves. According to Robert

Mitchell of Computerworld, a theme that permeated the 2010

Gartner Symposium was that “the need to accommodate the

consumer’s choice of end point mobile computing devices,

each with its own application infrastructure and network, is

increasingly being taken as a given”12. Case in point: the iTunes

App Store by Apple. Launched in July 2008 with about 500

apps, mobile adoption skyrocketed from zero to 10 million

downloads within a few short days13. In just 30 months

(January 2011), 400,000 iOS apps were available in the App

Store, and the download volume surpassed 10 billion apps14.

Supported by just one platform’s data, Mitchell’s observation

is an obvious one: consumers are adopting mobile apps on

their platforms of choice.

Whether taking a class or keeping abreast of the latest sports scores, the community that circles a particular educational institution creates natural opportunities for mobile services.

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If properly conceived of as part of a holistic vision that

looks at different communities and maps expectations

and desires against services and capabilities, a strategic

approach to mobile and mobile apps can help provide

levels of interactivity and service delivery that align and

best match with what people expect of a mobile-aware

and engaged organization15, while taking advantage of

infrastructure investments made to date. Although some

may argue that a mobile-enabled website is good enough,

charting a successful course should take into account the

consumers’ platform of choice and the choices they are

making to consume information and interact with services.

Today and increasingly tomorrow, that means mobile apps

that are rely upon Web services and technologies16.

Achieving Mobile AgilityIn many ways, mobile is much like the Web. It is a number

of different technologies that work together in harmony to

exchange information, enable creativity, and enhance pro-

ductivity. Similarly, mobile moves at the speed of the Web.

Consumers adopt new devices each day and expect appli-

cations and services to be available when they need them.

Development cycles of 12-24 months simply don’t apply

when new mobile functionality is rolled out every six to nine

months by platform providers. To keep pace, organizations

should develop their “mobile agility.”

Sports cars are often judged by two things: power and

handling. Success in any race depends heavily on striking

a balance between these performance factors. As such,

car that has greater power won’t necessarily beat one that

is agile under certain conditions17. So by way of analogy,

if the Web is a straight-line drag race, mobile is a road

race on a twisting mountainous course. One won’t survive

the mobile race with sheer power and speed; one needs

to be both quick and nimble (or run the risk of flying off

the track). Here, mobile agility refers to an organization’s

ability to rapidly and appropriately respond to changing

needs of mobile users, no matter whom they are or where

they might be.

Agility doesn’t specifically refer to how fast and organi-

zation can get a mobile solution out the door. Instead it

equates to delivering the right apps and services at the

right time in the most responsive manner. A rapidly devel-

oped app that doesn’t resonate with its intended audience

is effectively a non-starter and in the worst case, generates

negative user feedback and disenchantment. Alternatively,

a well-designed app that is released too late runs the risk of

being usurped by other services or apps because it missed

the window of opportunity.

Although it seems like something new, mobile builds upon

the technologies and services many organizations already

have in place and as such, can be part of an overall enterprise

IT strategy. Gartner predicts that we will soon see software

development move toward a mobile-first paradigm18. The

evolution of enterprise IT, brought about by applications

migrating to the Web, is enabling this paradigm shift. Wire-

less, single-sign-on, access management, learning manage-

ment, messaging and notification, web services, content

management, virtualization, cloud services and service-

oriented architectures are all components that contribute to

the success of present applications as well as mobile. What

existing services deliver for enterprise applications can be

harnessed for mobile should and naturally fit into a program

of continuous improvement and technology evolution.

Mobile agility is not merely about technology and execution.

It is about recognizing mobile’s place in an overall strategy

and becoming more nimble in designing, developing, and

deploying services that are appropriate for the organiza-

tion’s core users as well as its untapped communities.


ConclusionThe mobile paradigm is one that has evolved over decades and

only recently have the pieces fallen into place to bring it to the

forefront of our connected global society. Educational institutions

and organizations are perfect positioned to embrace what mobile

has to offer, provided that they embrace mobile as a platform and

integrate its possibilities into strategic planning.

An awareness of context-driven use of mobile technology19,

recognition that users desire access to information anytime and

anywhere20, and the acceptance of mobile as the personal pro-

ductivity platform of choice21 are characteristics of an organiza-

tion on a path toward a holistic mobile strategy. The hallmark of

an organization that possesses a high degree of mobile agility

will be its ability take its strategy and transform it into action,

thus delivering the right services at the right times on the mobile

platforms users expect.

Learning organizations of all kinds should embrace the opportuni-

ties embedded in anytime, anywhere learning, and develop holis-

tic approaches to mobile and grow their mobile agility to best

connect with yesterday’s prospective students, today’s learners,

and tomorrow’s alumni.

About The AuthorChad Kainz is a Solutions Director within Blackboard Consulting

with a strategic focus on the effective use of educational technol-

ogy and mobile strategy. His professional background is rooted in

two decades of exploring how information technology and digital

media can best support the creation and sharing of ideas and

knowledge, and how these technologies can be applied within

virtual, mobile and physical settings. Prior to joining Blackboard,

Chad was the Assistant Chief Information Technology Officer

and Executive Director for Campus & Academic Services at the

University of Chicago, co-principal investigator and co-director of

Project Bamboo, and served as the vice-chair of the IEEE Learn-

ing Technology Standards Committee from 2003-2007.

The hallmark of an organization that possesses a high degree of mobile agility will be its ability take its strategy and transform it into action.

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1 Frohlich, David, Peter Thomas, Mike Hawley, and Kenkichi Hirade. “Inaurgural issue editorial: Future personal computing.” Personal and Ubiquious Computing, 1997: 1-5.

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9 Entner, Roger. Under-aged Texting: Usage and Actual Cost.

10 Gartner. Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2011.

11 Bar, Aaron. “Study: Mobile Internet Necessity, Not Luxury.” Online Media Daily. MediaPost News. February 19, 2009. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=100576 (accessed December 7, 2010).

12 Mitchell, Robert. Gartner Symposium: Mobile increasingly driving the IT bus. October 19, 2010. http://blogs.computerworld.com/17199/gartner_symposium_mobile_increasingly_driving_the_it_bus (accessed November 16, 2010).

13 Wikipedia. App Store. January 21, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/App_Store (accessed January 21, 2011).

14 Apple. 10 Billion App Countdown. January 21, 2011. http://www.apple.com/itunes/10-billion-app-countdown/ (accessed January 21, 2011).


16 Constantinou, Andreas. Apps is the new Web: sowing the seeds for Web 3.0. November 23, 2010. http://www.visionmobile.com/blog/2010/11/apps-is-the-new-web-sowing-the-seeds-for-web-3-0/ (accessed January 21, 2011).

17 Hammond, Richard. BBC Top Gear. Series 1, Episode 1. Aired October 20, 2002.

18 Mitchell, Robert. Gartner Symposium: Mobile increasingly driving the IT bus.




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Mobile Agility and the Anytime Anywhere Impact on IT

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