For an API initiative to be successful and long-lasting, it goes without saying that business benefits must be targeted and realized sooner rather than later. However, doing so is easier said than done and far too often, the adoption of not just APIs, but technology in general results in expensive IT or business endeavors that never get to see the light of day. Some obvious reasons for such a fate include:
- Solely IT-driven initiatives that aim to solve a technology problem and lack business context, requirements, and buy-in. They can't be justified against business metrics.
- Solely business-driven technology initiatives that lack adequate input from IT and thus can be very badly scoped, estimated, and planned.
- Initiatives that engage with end users way too late (or not at all). Even though the project might be successfully delivered...
