Too many systems!! Let’s consolidate, but should we?

It is not uncommon to have spaghetti of systems within an organisation. Reasons and impacts for that could be multiple:

Mergers and Acquisitions: When companies merge or acquire other entities, they often inherit a diverse array of systems and technologies. Integrating these disparate systems can be challenging due to differences in architecture, data formats, or business processes. Example WestPac and St. George merger

Incremental Development: Systems often evolve incrementally over time, with new features, technologies, or requirements being added on top of existing ones. Without proper planning and coordination, this can lead to a patchwork of interconnected components that lack a cohesive structure.

Legacy Systems: Many organizations rely on legacy systems that have been in place for years or even decades. These systems may have been developed using outdated technologies or methodologies, making them difficult to integrate with newer systems or update.

Organizational Silos: In large organizations, different departments or teams may develop their own systems or solutions to address specific needs without considering the broader organizational context. This can result in duplication of effort, inconsistency, and difficulty in sharing data or functionality across systems.