IT managers are living in a turbulent world, with trends like cloud, mobility, big data and social media. Here are the key tips from the American magazine CIO to master the fast-growing business jungle.
1. Acting, but do not panic
Change creates new business opportunities. Therefore, it is time to redefine the IT manager's role in your organization. Start with an overall evaluation of the IT department can do to strengthen and streamline business.
2. Evaluating processes
The IT department usually lays 80 percent of the time of maintenance and 20 percent on innovation. Best way to increase innovation is to begin to streamline the most time-consuming: processes. These often take considerable resources and must be streamlined and automated.
3. Identify key talent
Make sure these people get the resources to take on the heavy and difficult tasks. Ensure that all new projects are imbued with positive thinking.
4. Say yes – not against
Historically, IT manager always said no, to reduce costs. A no is the most effective way to curb new projects. Instead, IT manager understand the user's problems on the business units and the response to them. Otherwise, the solution to the users themselves their problems and the IT department loses control over investments.
5. The control and enables.
Some rules must embrace the whole company, for example within Security and legal compliance. The key word will not always be centralization or control. Instead, the IT department to control where necessary and otherwise work as an enabler.
6. Walking out of the office.
If the IT department to start supporting new businesses and services, need IT manager to be involved in and understand the business. Therefore, the IT manager out and get moving and learn how users perceive their reality, and get a picture of how the responsibility domains IT manager responsible for appears to users.
7. Require support from top executives.
The IT department can only be changed from within if there is support from the rest of the organization and from the executive. Form a steering committee that spans the human resources department, marketing and finance department. Change is a process that does not happen overnight.
8. Speak with external actors
Do not limit your contacts to internal stakeholders, without talking to customers, Partners and suppliers. Get an eye on what is happening in these companies and evaluate how your company can become a better business partner.
9. Build prototypes
Plan for big changes, but in small. All new projects should be linked to business objectives and their success should be measured by simple and easily understandable control figures. It should IT manager look like a venture capitalist who ensure that all new projects will be sound investments, risk capital, staffing and operational support from the business.
Source: http://computersweden.idg.se/2.2683/1.537864/it-chefens-overlevnadsguide