Brazil Calling! First-Ever Portuguese TBM Coffee Chat: Sip, Learn, and Connect!

Please note: This conversation was based on peer-to-peer engagement and shared experiences, not formal research. The insights shared reflect personal perspectives from within the community.

Hello everyone! The TBM Council recently hosted its first-ever Portuguese "Coffee Chat," connecting directly with our members in Brazil to discuss emerging TBM trends impacting the Brazilian market. This engaging session provided a fresh perspective and an opportunity for valuable conversation. Attendees from various organizations, including Tivit and Petrobras, shared insights and discussed their experiences with TBM in Brazil. Our hosts, Tiago Nascimento and Joao Victor da Fonseca Galvao dos Santos, led a dynamic discussion.

What is a TBM Council Coffee Chat?

TBM Council Coffee Chats are informal, peer-to-peer engagements where we create a relaxed space for community members to share real-world insights, ask questions, and learn from one another. It’s all about connecting and growing together.

These sessions are held every four to six weeks per strategy community and typically last about 30 to 45 minutes. They're hosted by fellow TBM community members who are passionate about sharing their experiences and lessons learned. You won’t see any formal slides—just honest, practical conversation focused on the ‘how-tos’ of implementing and evolving TBM in your organizations. We encourage you to participate—ask questions, drop thoughts in the chat, and let this be a space where you feel comfortable sharing. It’s the community that makes these chats valuable.

Key Insights from "TBM in Brazil" Coffee Chat

During this inaugural Portuguese Coffee Chat, several crucial insights emerged regarding the TBM landscape and its application in Brazil:

• Local Adaptation is Key: The TBM framework requires significant adaptation to local realities and company cultures in Brazil, with many organizations preferring to build internal TBM models based on the taxonomy.

• Navigating Cloud & Technical Debt: Challenges include normalizing technical cloud naming conventions for executive reporting and realistically budgeting for persistent technical debt like mainframe costs.

• Demonstrating Tangible Value: Driving TBM adoption relies on showcasing immediate, quantifiable wins (e.g., unused licenses) and tailoring communication to resonate with different stakeholders' priorities (e.g., financial impact for CFOs).

• TBM as an Enabler, Not a "Silver Bullet": TBM is a powerful framework for empowering data-driven decision-making and cost optimization, but it requires continuous effort and maturity, not a quick fix.

Discussion Summary

Local Adaptation of TBM Frameworks 

The discussion highlighted that while the TBM framework is globally recognized, its implementation often requires significant adaptation to local realities and company cultures in Brazil. Participants emphasized that many organizations in Brazil opt to build their TBM models internally, leveraging the TBM taxonomy and principles as a guiding framework rather than immediately adopting external tools. This approach allows for greater flexibility and alignment with existing internal processes.

A key challenge mentioned was the differing levels of independence among companies within larger organizations. For those with significant independence, establishing a TBM platform can be a relatively smooth process. However, for organizations with more centralized functions or less autonomy, achieving full TBM implementation can be more complex, often requiring more extensive internal advocacy and alignment. The need to "sell" TBM internally and demonstrate clear financial and operational value was a recurring theme, especially when advocating for dedicated TBM resources or tools.

Tackling Cloud Costs and Technical Debt

The topic of cloud costs was a major point of discussion, resonating with challenges faced globally. Participants noted that while native cloud tools (like those from AWS and Azure) offer robust reporting, a significant hurdle lies in normalizing the technical naming conventions used by developers and architects into terms that make sense for executive-level TBM reporting. The "black holes" of unallocated shared cloud costs, such as reservations not tied to specific cost centers or customers, present a persistent challenge. The TBM framework can help bridge this gap by providing a standardized way to classify and allocate these complex costs.

The concept of technical debt also emerged as a challenge, particularly in multi-year planning. One host humorously shared an anecdote about perpetually "shrinking" mainframe costs in budget plans that consistently failed to materialize in reality, leading to a shift towards budgeting based on observed realities rather than optimistic projections. This underlines the importance of integrating realistic operational data into TBM financial models.

Driving Adoption and Demonstrating Value 

To make TBM an everyday business practice, participants discussed strategies for demonstrating immediate, tangible value. Focusing on quick wins, such as identifying unused software licenses, can build credibility and buy-in. Tailoring communication to different stakeholders—emphasizing transparency for CIOs and tangible financial impact for CFOs—is crucial. For CFOs, quantifying unused capacity (e.g., software or hardware) provides a clear financial impact of TBM.

The conversation underscored that TBM is not a "silver bullet" but a powerful framework that requires maturity and continuous effort. It's about empowering business managers with relevant, actionable information, driving discussions around cost optimization, and enabling data-driven decision-making. The value is often seen in the ability to understand cost composition, identify areas for efficiency, and align IT spend with business outcomes.

Join the TBM Brazil Group and Our Strategy Communities!

The TBM Council is actively looking for more members to participate in open forums, coffee chats, engage with the community, and contribute to assets. You can join the TBM Brazil group and also explore one of our many strategy communities, which meet regularly and discuss a variety of topics focused on helping organizations successfully implement and mature their TBM practices.

If you're interested in connecting with peers, sharing real-world insights, and helping shape the future of TBM adoption in Brazil, we encourage you to join us! You can continue these conversations and ask questions on the TBM Connect Brazil Community.

Next Steps: Engage and Learn More!

To continue your journey with Technology Business Management, we invite you to explore our website, log into TBM Connect here, dive deeper into the TBM framework, learn the fundamentals of TBM modeling, and review our latest research here—including the State of TBM report and our ongoing study of TBM salaries. Consider enrolling in a TBM course, joining the TBM Council to connect with a global community of peers, or attending the next TBM Conference to engage with thought leaders driving innovation at the intersection of technology and business. You can also explore our network of partners for additional resources and expertise, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about the latest insights, events, and tools in the world of TBM.

Ready to connect, learn, and grow? Join one of our TBM Strategy Communities on TBM Connect to participate in open forums, attend upcoming Coffee Chats, and contribute to our growing body of shared knowledge!