Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Digital Transformation Success Depends on So Much More Than Technology

There is a common misconception that digital transformation involves nothing more than installing a new technology platform: Roll out the software, and everything in your business miraculously transforms around it.

But digital transformation requires more than just a software implementation — it requires a fundamental change in the way you do business like Aloha Technology.

The beginning of a digital transformation initiative is the perfect time to take a critical look at every aspect of your operations — how you recruit talent, how you’re organized, how you make decisions, even your dress code — to determine whether you need to make changes.

As you embark on your digital transformation, consider these five aspects of the undertaking: what needs to be transformed, how your organization views technology, why you want to transform your culture, the importance of delegating authority to managers, and what KPIs need to be measured.

By following the five steps outlined here, you’ll identify the areas of your business that will benefit from digital transformation and determine how to move forward with the support of key stakeholders.

1. Understand What Needs to Be Transformed

Not everything in your business may need to be transformed. Transformation for the sake of transformation is not healthy.

First, understand why transformation is necessary and what the goal is. From there, it’s important to align your management team around your vision.
Since digital transformation affects every area of a business, it requires teams to coordinate and collaborate like never before. You must put the right people in the right places to drive change. Not only do you need inspiring visionaries in your leadership group; you also need managers who understand the technologies and strategies surrounding current operations.
2. Rethink How the Organization Views Technology

Digital transformation is more than just adding an app to your current business model. Changing to a digital phone system, choosing an analytics application or upgrading your customer relationship management system aren’t digital transformations — they’re technology deployments that enhance current services.

Digital transformation penetrates to the heart of your organization by helping you make information available, accessible and usable — from any location, at any time and with any device. It gives your organization an opportunity to reinvent products, processes and technologies — all to drive the efficiency and agility you need to create customer experiences that improve performance and generate revenue.

CompTIA research shows that while businesses have an appreciation for strategic IT, they are not necessarily prepared to execute on that vision. The IT trade association reports that 78 percent of organizations surveyed said they are using technology to drive business outcomes, but only 28 percent said they are extremely confident in their ability to apply technology to business goals.

In this case, it’s not about a specific technology platform, but about an organizational view of technology. You can’t convincingly talk to the organization about digital transformation if you’re still doing everything on paper. Start by openly embracing technology to engage the organization.
3. When It Comes to Culture, Ask ‘Why?’

Shortcomings in organizational culture are one of the main barriers to company success in the digital age. Leaders must be intentional in building a digital culture, including changing legacy technology and structures that hinder transformation.

“In my experience, culture is the hardest part of the organization to change,” says serial digital entrepreneur and McKinsey advisor James Bilefield. “Shifting technology, finding the right talent, finding the right product set and strategy — that’s all doable, not easy, but doable. Hardest is the cultural transformation in businesses that have very deep legacy and cultural roots.”

As a part of any digital transformation initiative, an important question to ask is “why?” Here are some specific questions that will help you find an answer:

Why do we have our desks organized this way? Do we need to investigate different arrangements, like desk-sharing, flex space or co-working spaces?

Why do we have this specific dress code?

Do we need to all be in the office? Would we be more effective, or would we be able to recruit the right type of talent, if we had more flexible working arrangements?

How do senior managers interact with the rest of the organization? Does it need to change?

Why do we have standing meetings? Are they still necessary?

Asking “Why?” helps us understand the impact of remaining in stasis, what we can achieve if we head in a new direction, and how moving away from legacy aspects of culture can support a transformation initiative.

Read Original Article on https://www.cmswire.com/digital-workplace/digital-transformation-success-depends-on-so-much-more-than-technology/



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