Todays Value Proposition - Technology
As our economy drives forward at a record pace, business leaders question how they maintain and improve business results. Less fortunate corporations ask how they can change to compete and win, while the government watchdogs regularly challenge a lack of Canadian productivity improvement. How effectively a company uses technology to support the core business is a critical contributor to productivity and improvements to the bottom line.
Today's business leaders have extremely different views on technology and its application. The groups can be characterized as:
- Succeed with it. Technology will make the difference between us and our competitors, between success, mediocrity, or failure.
- Put up with it. Technology is needed for back office functions, but does not directly deliver ongoing business value.
- Manage it. Our business has fully exploited available technology so deliver it with optimum efficiency.
In many organizations those responsible for information technology are divorced from the business of the enterprise. Relgated to the position
of an "internal supplier", their focus is soley on minimizing the expense of technology deployment. While this may be an appropriate strategy
for some companies, the linkage to the business still needs to be maintained and developed. No business is static. Opportunities and threats
continually evolve and without a stronger executive led linkage, the opportunities for significant improvement through technology deployment is lost.
Successful results will be realized by those that plan, challenge, risk, and execute an annual Business Technology Quality Plan (BTQP) combined with executive led measurement of actions and results.
The BTQP is owned by the executive team and championed by the CEO. Make no mistake in that it must be totally focused on and driven by the business, be it units, leaders or strategy. Technology, its deployment, and ongoing services are a key enabler of a successful business plan, which must be measured for the quality of business results achieved.
Business leaders that openly engage technology have a fully implemented and operationalized BTQP. These companies are delivering results and improving productivity on an ongoing basis. Shareholders want to invest in them and employees want to work for them, with a culture of 'We can be Better'.
Organizations that are ignoring the benefits of technology change add risk in their approach as global competitors, developing countries, and a lack of operational improvements threaten their well being and longevity. A BTQP is a strategic step forward from managing and accepting what is in place today. Leaders of these organizations need to assess, review and plan how they should improve the productivity and the business through the effective deployment of technology. Typical challenges:
- Cost overrun and lack of ROI. Hands-on executives lead and manage investments and the change(s) required in the business backed with a BTQP that provides meaningful measurement.
- We've outsourced. Review the agreements for appropriate control points, industry measures and a solid service framework. Outsourcers should not be in control of your strategic use of technology.
- Capital intensive and high risk. Breakdown major programs to change into quantifiable and manageable projects and milestones.
Keeping up is a short term plan. Technology can be your differentiator.
Roger Tiffin is a Principal in Cameron Partners, www.cameronpartners.com
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