We’ve been dealing with more and more businesses that are working on getting true leverage out of their IT assets. Typically, and it’s been overstated in so many other forums, IT folks start with the technology. And frankly, we consultants find ourselves driving our clients to start with the technology. As the sober reality sets in that technology can only get you so far down the path to increased efficiencies and improved productivity, we have been finding that the maxim ‘people, process, and technology’ ever present in teh reality of today’s business systems environment. So, where to start.
People: Anyone who runs a business, a business unit, a team, etc., knows that people are the reason you will succeed or fail. Having the right people will determine how well the process and technology will be leveraged to achieve the desired efficiencies and productivity. With the amazing pace of business, it’s starting to be evident that the executive who can create an environment for his/her people to achieve personal and organizational goals is going to be the leader of the pack.
Process: Putting reasonable processes in place is absolutely critical. Another critical component in process is the 80/20 rule. How well and executive can execute the 80/20 rule in their environment will determine how well processes will be adopted and efficiently executed. Again with pace of business, how well an executive will create an environment for executing and allowing feedback to improve execution will determine who’s going to succeed or fail.
Technology: Technology is fun. It’s the latest whizbang product or solution that gets my attention, and the attention of many clients with whom I’ve worked. The current challenge with budget and pace pressure is to extract more value from existing platforms and only make incremental investments for geometric gains.
Companies are able to make these types of incremental investments for geometric gains through the collaborative efforts of the lowest level employees integrating a feeback loop to upper levels of management. In the context of an employees day-to-day work, businesses have the most to gain. More thinking to come on contextual collaboration.
