LA 049: Breaking Down the Glass Walls. The Biggest Challenges for Tech and Business Leaders in 2017

It's more than 40 years later, and businesses and homes are awash with computing devices. There's more computing power in my watch than on that entire top floor of equipment back in the early 70's. Much has changed... except it seems there remains a divide between the techies behind that glass wall and the business desk on the outside.   At the end of 2016, Barbara Dossetter of CIO Connect and I undertook a research project to better understand the current frustrations and challenges faced by both tech and business leaders. It's something I've been doing every 3 years or so that we can continue to pragmatically address the real issues faced in the workplace and not just spout empty Ivory Tower theories.   What is particularly shocking is that those essential glass walls from the 70's are metaphorically still in place today. It seems that Business Leaders are frustrated that the techies are still not aligning the systems to the needs of the business. In the meantime, Tech Leaders tell us that they are frustrated with stakeholders (business leaders) changing their minds throughout the projects!   Could it be that these two major frustrations that cost massive time delays, significant reduction in ROI from projects and inordinate stress to both parties have the same root cause?   Isn't it time we smashed down those glass walls and Tech leaders learn to speak business unto business?   And before my fellow Techies get up in arms about this and suggest that it should be the business folk who should learn to speak tech unto tech... let me share a little secret with you. Business language hasn't changed in over a century. Tech changed yesterday. We cannot expect business people to learn the language of Tech. Respect and recognise the vast contributions and acknowledge all the excellent work, yes. But if we wait for Business leaders to learn how to communicate to tech, we'll miss this opportunity to address the challenges.   And the great news is that it will be possible to achieve the holy trinity for tech projects once we learn how to bring all stakeholders on board and keep them partnering together. On time, within budget and delivered to business needs and expectations.    But it's not solely the responsibility of the tech team. As one of my clients mentioned after reading the draft report: There isn't a single project in the business that doesn't now involve IT in some way. We need to Invest time up front on tech and business programmes to ensure that all stakeholders completely understand and that the programme is aligned with what the business wants and needs is likely to save swathes of wasted time and effort and money later.   You can download the report in the form of a PDF White Paper now.    Discover all the frustrations and issues from both the Tech and Business perspectives and what it is costing your business.   Barb and I are putting together some exciting development and consulting solutions to overcome these issues and we'll be sharing the Power Continuum Dashboard in the coming weeks as one way you can quickly and accurately assess where your organisation sits in it's maturity for the 21st century. Contact us and find out how we can help guide you, with no obligation, to break that glass because there is an emergency.