Lead change, don’t be swallowed by it.
By Matthew Richardson, Editor, EC-Insight
IT has been pervasive in business for a long time, but more recently cloud, social media, mobile computing and “own” devices have become pervasive too. Are senior IT execs going to lead the change or be swallowed by it? It is clear that the sands are shifting, and at an increasingly rapid pace too. Standard Life’s CIO has left, and his role will no longer exist. “We’ve been moving towards a model where the responsibility for IT is embedded in each business unit, rather than one large central function” a spokesman said.
So what is important in order to be indispensable or highly employable as the general markets for products, services and jobs become increasingly difficult in the coming months?
Here are two hotspots that our editors have identified at EC Insight:
1. Social Media
A thorough understanding of social media, together with a considered strategy that aligns with the goals of the business. CEOs are taking social media increasingly seriously and are keen to see the results that this new area offers.
2. Mobile
As the adoption of smartphones and tablet devices continues apace, the organisation’s mobile strategy and systems development is rising quickly up the agenda. It is increasingly considered a ‘must have’ both for internal and external work-flow, collaboration and interaction within the organisation.
Additionally, we see a couple of danger areas to be aware of:
Avoid the public sector
Recent reports indicate employment in the public sector could hamper an IT executive’s career because of the perception that the technologies and techniques used there are less up-to-date.
Stay young
Some consider age bias to be particularly prevalent in the IT sector. To avoid it one must develop and maintain relevant and current skills as well as ensure that one’s attitudes do not become narrow-minded.
Probably the best advice in today’s environment is to run a tight ship and continue to innovate.