Getting the business team and IT people speaking the same language is like trying to hold a conversation in the Tower of Babel. All too often, organizations struggle to get their people to understand IT’s very crucial role. The same holds true for technical experts: it’s easy enough to lose sight that for most companies, technology is a business enabler, not an end in itself.
Suffice to say that the divergent points of view make things more than a little challenging. We wouldn’t buy new machinery or warehouse space without a potentially strong ROI; conversely, we shouldn’t invest in technology solutions without clarity on the business problem it solves. Too often, business leaders sometimes don’t recognize the value that newer technology solutions and a properly aligned IT organization can deliver.
Despite all the discussion of “data as an asset,” technology initiatives often struggle for funding in favor of physical assets. Companies that foster a culture where IT is laser-focused on business alignment are poised for greater success in the increasingly digital world. Unlike their counterparts in a traditional organizational structure, which tends to promote siloes that keep most of the IT group out of the loop, the alignment of business and IT drives greater business value.
At a time when there is often a tug-of-war between finance and operations, why is this business-focused technology mindset so important to promote within our companies? What are the side effects of a siloed, mis-aligned IT strategy, and how might we rethink teams to better serve our businesses into the future?
