Tunnel Vision in Digital Transformation, Delta's Digital Transformation, Change Management Goals & Objectives for 2024, The Future of IT
Jan 31, 2024
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Digital transformation experts Kyler Cheatham and Fred Hessler, along with change management specialist Eric Kimberling, cover topics like tunnel vision in transformations, Delta Airlines' journey, IT change management goals for 2024, and the future of IT. They discuss challenges with NetSuite post-Oracle acquisition, transitioning careers in ERP systems, balancing tunnel vision and agility, Delta's focus on change management, leadership alignment, navigating ERP implementations, transitioning to automated processes, and enhancing employee well-being through effective change management.
Change resistance can stem from fear of losing control in manual data management during digital transformations.
Geopolitical decisions and external influences can unpredictably impact the pace and approach of digital initiatives.
Leadership alignment is crucial to mitigate disruptions caused by budget fluctuations and organizational changes.
Effective change management practices are vital in alleviating employee concerns and promoting well-being.
The IT labor shortage hampers technology utilization, making it crucial to leverage consultants and managed services for skill augmentation.
Deep dives
Challenges of Change Resistance
Change resistance in organizations can arise not only from intentional sabotage efforts but also from concerns about losing control or protection over data previously managed manually. Employees may experience worry about the future and how shifts from manual to automated processes impact their role and job responsibilities.
Influence of External Factors on Transformations
Geopolitical decisions, macroeconomic fluctuations, and external forces can impact digital transformations in unpredictable ways. Organizations may need to navigate cautious decision-making post-COVID, heightened change fatigue, and increased uncertainty. The varying external landscape can affect the pace and approach of digital initiatives.
Leadership Alignment's Role in Project Success
Leadership alignment is critical for successful digital transformations. Deviating from allocated budgets, experiencing executive leadership changes, or facing interruptions like mergers can disrupt initiatives. Ensuring top-level alignment and stability supports project continuity and organizational resilience.
Focusing on Employee Well-Being through Change Management
Change management practices are essential for promoting employee well-being during digital transformations. Addressing fears, stress, and uncertainty through clear communication, defined roles, and minimizing disruption can enhance employee morale and mitigate negative impacts on well-being.
Current State of the IT Labor Market
The IT labor market remains tight, with recent layoffs in large tech firms contributing to the competition for technical talent. Job growth in IT is expected to be robust, especially in fields like security, data science, analytics, cloud engineering, and software development. The shortage of talent is partly driven by technical trends that attract interest, but also by the inherent aptitudes required for technology roles that are not widely distributed in the population.
Impact of IT Labor Shortage on Businesses
The IT labor shortage limits businesses from fully exploiting technology investments, particularly in data science and analytics, hindering decision-making capabilities. It also hampers the development of tactical solutions and workflows that can drive efficiency and improve the employee experience. Energy directed towards keeping systems running hinders technological exploitation and the realization of technology investments.
Addressing the Talent Gap with Consultants and Managed Services
To address the talent gap, businesses can leverage independent or technology-agnostic consultants and managed services providers to fill skill gaps and augment their IT capabilities. However, it's crucial to be clear about the type of experience needed from these providers and set realistic expectations regarding cost and outcomes. While consultants and managed services providers can supplement an organization's IT skills, they do not expand the overall labor pool, and choosing the right provider requires aligning expectations with the intended level of service and value.
Strategies for Successful Engagement with Managed Services Providers
It is crucial to clearly define the scope of services required from a managed services provider to avoid potential issues. Vague scope definitions can lead to misunderstandings, ineffective outcomes, and challenges in measuring performance. Establishing a strong cultural and trust match, along with ensuring executive awareness of organizational needs, is essential for successful partnerships without scope creep issues.
Key Considerations for Talent Retention and Development
Retaining top talent involves more than just financial rewards, including providing a respectful and purpose-driven work culture. Offering flexible work arrangements, encouraging learning from mistakes, and avoiding toxic hires are crucial for employee retention. Acknowledging individual values and contributions while maintaining recruiting standards for A-team members can enhance overall talent retention strategies.
The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:
Tunnel Vision in Digital Transformations, Q&A (Kyler Cheatham, Third Stage Consulting)
Digital Transformation at Delta Airlines (Kyler Cheatham)
Change Management Goals & Objectives for 2024 (Eric Kimberling)
The Future of IT (Kyler Cheatham and Fred Hessler, Third Stage Consulting)
We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.
This weekly podcast series premiers live on YouTube every Wednesday at 8am New York/1pm London/9pm Hong Kong. You can also subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, Pandora, or your favorite podcast platform.
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