No more business and IT, technology is part of business
It is exciting to see thousands of progressive companies reimagining their industries. For example, they use data to gain deep insights into market and customer opportunities, appealing at a more personal level to customers through real-time personalisation, and creating new channels through which customers can engage.
Prior to the on-demand power of the cloud, this level of speed and insight was out of reach for most companies. Technology is no longer the barrier. It’s now a case of whether companies will think big about the opportunities, and quickly and iteratively bring these to life with their customers.
Firstly, let us be clear that technology is part of the business. No more the business and IT!
Technology permeates every function and understanding how to use technology and data wisely for business outcomes should be a priority for all leaders. Business-focused technology leaders invest time demystifying technology for their peers, and ensuring a focus is placed not just on the technology but also the people and process changes needed to deliver business outcomes.
Breaking down barriers to collaboration including setting up the small cross-functional teams, what we call two-pizza teams, and giving them business problems to focus on.
Evolving organisational structures to become more agile stretches beyond IT. Most organisations are designed for efficiency, not the ability to quickly understand and adapt to customer needs. Progressive organisations create cross-functional teams and empower them to deliver business value to customers. It increases accountability, focus and motivation while reducing unnecessary overhead.
These organisations relentlessly drive efficiencies in areas that are not competitively advantageous and thus focus more time and money on those areas of true differentiation. The cloud is an engine for this. For example, using Machine Learning to automate processes to free employees to experiment on behalf of their customers.
Technology has the power to improve many societal issues whether sustainability, poverty, hunger, or health. This potential will only truly be unleashed if we educate broadly on how to us technology and data. Inspiring the next generation and equipping everyone with these skills is one way we as leaders can help here.
Principal challenges for decision makers
- In simple words, staying relevant.
- The old school technology departments of the past that sought to control and manage all technology will not work, nor is it particularly motivating to feel like an order taker in your own business.
- Relevancy to me means helping create awareness of how to use technology for competitive advantage, how newer technologies such as the cloud are creating business agility, and how your own organisation needs to remove barriers to faster, iterative experimentation.
- Finding more ways to say yes in businesses rather than allowing inertia and complacency of past successes to dominate is key here.
Key Takeaways
- The old school technology departments of the past that sought to control and manage all technology will not work
- It is not particularly motivating to feel like an order taker in your own business.
- Relevancy to me means helping create awareness of how to use technology for competitive advantage
- How your own organisation needs to remove barriers to faster, iterative experimentation.
- Evolving organisational structures to become more agile stretches beyond IT.
- Most organisations are designed for efficiency, not the ability to quickly understand and adapt to customer needs.
- Progressive organisations create cross-functional teams and empower them to deliver business value to customers.
- Inspiring next generation and equipping everyone with these skills is one way we as leaders can help here.
Find more ways to say yes in businesses rather than allowing inertia and complacency of past successes to dominate, is the key here.
