|
|
 |
|
|
|
Maintenance vs. Innovation
Technology is ever changing and always improving, driving business needs to maintain existing technology as well as to innovate and create new ways of doing things with the latest technologies. How do companies balance these needs?
How can IT departments and Executive teams work together to achieve both the day-to-day needs of keeping the business running with the ongoing needs for innovation?
It is common to hear from IT teams that they have too much to do and management doesn't understand the demands on their time. It is also common to hear from management that IT is too slow at delivering the new projects that they need to push the business forward and meet the demands of their business strategy.
While IT has its associated costs, it produces improvements and efficiencies that are unmeasured. The day-to-day support and maintenance may seem like a cost center but consider the impact if it doesn't work, if computers shut down, if servers are inaccessible? In addition today's technology should help the business grow not just maintain the status quo. Technology can and should increase productivity, decrease costs, and improve customer service and overall operations, thus providing a significant measurable ROI. Technology innovation should support the overall business strategy and direction the company is headed not hinder it or slow it down. But how do you get there?
How can businesses overcome the challenges of keeping day-to-day operations running and creating an environment for successful innovation as well?
Look carefully at your IT department. Is their primary job maintenance or innovation? Or do they handle both? Are they frustrated because they need to travel back and forth between these two objectives? Should they split into separate teams? Should you consider outsourcing?
Innovation projects require a different approach, different skill sets and different environments to breed success than do the day to day support and maintenance projects.
Instead of one large team trying to handle both and cross over skill sets and styles, two smaller teams with more targeted skill sets and environments may be more successful and provide for greater efficiencies for both teams. These teams can be internal and external as long as they understand the business strategy and overall objectives of the company.
Let's look at some comparisons between IT day-to-day support and maintenance needs versus IT innovation needs:
Do you have the right teams in place? Are there efficiencies to be gained by reorganizing your team or teams? Is your technology aligned with your business strategy?
Wende Jones has held top level management positions for over 20 years and started technology consulting in order to meet executive management's strategy to double their annual revenues from $7M to $14M within 8 months. Wende has helped many companies across several industries meet their business strategies with technology innovation and improvements.
Printable PDF | |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
