Leading IT Through Change, Not Buzzwords - WSJ
Leading IT Through Change, Not Buzzwords
By Stuart Kippelman
Technology is driving a very different economy from years past. It is changing the attitudes and expectations of our customers, employees and shareholders. While many other corporate disciplines are feeling this pressure, I believe IT leaders are uniquely qualified to use this change to their firms’ advantage. But they need to have clear vision of what equals success in today’s digital economy.
To me, the point of change by IT is to improve the delivered result which should translate into improved business value. Change can of course be technology-based, but it also means changing business process, policy, skills and people. Change for no benefit is a waste of time. But change that moves the business forward is worth the effort. Change doesn’t begin with new project plans or technology rollouts (sorry, it doesn’t). It begins with thinking. Just as there are upgrades and new versions of technology, there must be similar upgrades to the way we think, speak and act.