What work culture does your organisation promote? If it isn’t transparent and joined-up, with a clear digital transformation narrative that is capable of carrying all employees on the the same journey then chances are the digital strategy won’t be realized.
This is because people are central to any digital transformation strategy and hence it is important for any business to understand that digital maturity is not simply about adopting the latest technology, its about developing poeple. Central to digital transformation is approaching the intersection of people, process and technology into one cohesive whole. These aspects can be bridged if there is a robust digital transformation strategy in place. This means connecting digital transformation to meaning, giving it a narrative so that all in the business understand the objectives and the journey that needs to be undertaken. Getting this right is important since a lack of employee buy-in often means limited success for the digital transformation project.
Profitability boost
There are also business incentives for putting employees first. An article on IT Portal finds that the most highly-engaged teams generate as much as 21 percent more profitability.
Getting the right skills in place
An employee-focused is taken in an editorial on the website People Matters. Here it is noted that the Human Relations department needs to take the lead in ensuring that people talent is central to get the most out of the digital age. The key skills that employers are seeking, across a range of industries,include cloud computing, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.
It is also acknowledged that, outside of this, digital transformation may require many different technologies and these need to built into the strategy. It is important to note that the strategy is not simply about updating technology; it is equally about future-proofing the business.
Building a narrative
As well as recruiting IT-centric role, it is necessary for everyone in the organization to understand why digital is important and how this helps the businesses. This is about sharing the strategy. Coupled with this is the importance of understanding. According to David Roe (CMS Wire): “When workers don’t know what is possible, they will not know what to ask for. If employees don’t know how digital transformation will benefit them and their departments, they will not have any desire for it.”
As well as sharing the strategy, it is also important for business leaders to be as transparent as possible about the purpose of the strategy, even to the extent that the survival of the business depends upon the successful execution of the strategy. To achieve a transparent culture, businesses need to ensure they have active communication channels; break down hierarchical barriers; and cutting across silos to enable cross-functional teams to work on digital projects.
