Lean Cloud Computing

Cloud computing enables organizations to shift from traditional, capacity-driven operational models to lean, demand-driven operational models. Lean cloud capacity management can improve operational efficiency, resource utilization and service agility, and thereby reduce costs. This work considers lean cloud computing via three interlocking threads of analysis: 1. Methodically applying lean (i.e., Toyota production system) thinking to the business problem of managing application, virtual resource and physical element capacity in the context of cloud computing 2. Applying insights from electric power generation and grid operations to cloud infrastructure operations 3. Applying insights from inventory management to cloud capacity management.