I hope Sean Lyons is correct when he says, “Eventually … I believe that a broader cross-functional discipline will emerge.” Unfortunately I think it will be longer coming than many people believe. Fragmented loyalties based on specialized skills are difficult to overcome. Technology may support a more holistic approach but some aspects of technology work counter to this goal. Advances in software functionality often occur first in specialized stand-alone applications. Competitive pressures force many businesses to be early adopters. This, in turn, reinforces fragmentation of data across the enterprise. It requires tremendous discipline to maintain reliable and timely consolidation of enterprise-wide data. Self-describing messages based on XML-based conventions can help, but as long as new complex transactions continue to appear it will be hard for these conventions to remain current. Without reliable and timely data consolidation, all the technology power in the world will be of limited use.

In the end the biggest obstacle to a more holistic approach will be old fashioned organizational jealousies and battles over turf. As the old saying goes, “We have met the enemy and they are us.”