Are Technology Leaders Focusing on the Minutia Too Much?

Have today’s technology leaders fallen victim to only focusing on those tactical initiatives in order to survive, and putting away strategic initiatives for brighter times?

In a recent article by Rob Preston, for Information Week, he asks whether CXO’s are focused too much on the little stuff, the minutia of running the business instead of focusing on where the business is headed – and how to make sure it gets there.

Rob cited evidence from the annual CIO survey released by The Society for Information Management (SIM). This report lists concerns of top-level IT management, and is based upon results from 291 technology decision makers. The top 10 concerns listed were:

1. IT and business alignment
2. Build business skills in IT
3. IT strategic planning
4. Attracting new IT professionals
5. Making better use of information
6. Manage change
7. Reducing the cost of doing business
8. Improve IT quality
9. Retaining IT professionals
10. Security and privacy

Rob goes on to state many of these concerns are consistent as in years past. Though these august priorities do indeed command attention, he goes on to rebuke many as too “tactical” in nature. He further makes note of No. 18: business process reengineering as being too far down on SIM’s list.

Overly Simplified or Simply Survival?

Rob goes on to make a bold statement:

… it seems that either they don’t have their priorities quite straight or their companies’ senior executives aren’t giving them enough authority to make a business difference. In this day and age, if you’re a technology leader and you’re still preoccupied with aligning IT and business and operating, maintaining, and deploying systems–as important as those responsibilities are–you’re behind the curve.

While strategy is very important, and time does indeed need to be spent uncovering and forging what your company’s strategy need be, it is living in the here and now as well as keeping associates and customers, alike, satisfied which keep your business’s doors open.

Maslow’s Hierarchy represents various needs we as humans must have in order to reach our full potential. At the base of these is our ‘physiological needs’, followed by our needs for safety, socialization, esteem and self-actualization (at the top). Maslow suggested that in order for humans to reach their potential, self-actualization, all other needs-groups must be satisfied first.

Perhaps, technology leaders are more focused on the tactical simply out of some survival instinct?

This is not necessarily a selfish thing either. One might argue that those leaders who are well tuned to their company’s mission and present market position might simply be sensitive to the fact that strategy doesn’t necessarily solve today’s problems – doesn’t necessarily put food on your table.

Converting the Ball Wins the Game:

I’m a fan of professional football, and love watching Sunday games. As many of you know, there are loads of commercials, lots of sideline commentators giving their feedback, and many fits and starts between the coin toss and final knee. How many big plays are there during any one game? If there is a large mismatch between the teams, you see a lot, but in professional football you usually only see a handful of really spectacular plays.

The teams spend countless hours in practice and drilling plays into their heads. The coach’s job is to know the plan, to make sure he has the right players in place, and adjust the plays where necessary. But in all that, it’s the 3-yard runs and 5-yard passes that make up most of the games; the do-overs, dropped balls, and penalties grind on your patience – but they are part of the game too.

As a technology focused leader, you must understand balance is of utmost importance – and prioritization a necessary skill to possess. Furthermore, strategic thinking is a very tough skill to master, but converting play after play consistently is where the touchdowns come. While Rob makes a good case, I can’t help but wonder if he acting a little as an arm-chair quarterback.

images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.