Is it far fetched to think that IT can be a business partner? I know I have written before on this topic but this short write up is meant to invoke thought, more than make any particular statements. As a leader in IT I see us as a business partner, but only because I make it that way, and here’s part of the reason why.
Here’s a thought process to follow – is it better to receive the business idea and have to ‘get it done’, or is it better to be in the meeting where the idea is born? Are you being set up for failure, or are you setting expectation? That question needs a little thought, and this thought process should frame why I am writing about this. What happens if you can’t hit the expectation when you have to ‘get it done’? Would it be seen as IT’s failure? Perhaps this is a drastic way of looking at the difference, but it can be that ‘direct’.
In smaller companies there is usually no executive leadership in the IT function. More often than not we report to the Vie President of Engineering, or Finance (CFO). The thought question for this paragraph is ‘can someone who has very little knowledge of the workings of IT represent us properly to the right people, at the right time’? Unfortunately even the Engineering leader will more than likely not have the in depth knowledge to address the IT portions of the business. How do you get around that? Look at it this way – do you think that I, as a leader in I.T. can effectively represent Engineering? Would you want me to? Do I have the in depth knowledge to make the right decision? Do you see where I am going with this? Remember, I just want to provoke thought.
The style of writing in the article is meant to be strong. I’m not trying to be caustic but I want to get a point across. I understand that there is a lot more in the mix than just the things I have mentioned here, but doesn’t it frame your thinking? Doesn’t it provoke a thought process?
There will always be barriers to this thinking – points of view – personalities, ignorance even. It’s not a perfect world but I am doing my part to make sure that the I.T. portion is done right. Sometimes it’s not a popular standpoint, but the business is more important than popularity.
One last point – the right leader can lead any group to success. For instance a Vice President of Technology is often responsible for IT, NetOps and Engineering and can still be successful. That person will know how to engage their senior staff at the right time to make sure the business gets the right balance. There is no assumption of knowledge if the right person is leading from the front. Now, framing the question above has a different slant to it, does it not?
That last paragraph is small in comparison to the initial five, but it packs a punch. Could the difference be attitude?
What do you think?
