Mark Runta posted recently on the question Are You Chasing Perfection? He asks an important question, and makes a powerful point.
I see many IT organizations that, in the interests in getting from Business-IT Maturity Level 1 to Level 2, try for perfection, and elimination of any possible risk. This becomes one of the sticking points I’ve referred to in the past - the drive for perfection becomes a trap that will (a) get you from Level 1 to Level 2, but (b) keep you at Level 2! You have to recognize and act on the difference between preventing bad change and fostering good change. This is parallel to the dynamic between continuous process improvement (six sigma, et al) and process re-engineering.
To get to Level 3, IT organizations need to get comfortable with “good enough”, with rapid iteration, with experimentation and with risk management as opposed to risk avoidance. With many IT professionals inherently uncomfortable with ambiguity, this is a mindset shift they are going to have to work at!
Filed under: IS Management, IT Maturity | Tagged: 80:20, ambiguity, risk avoidance, risk management
Great points! With all the hype about the tech savvy Gen Y’s entering the workplace, do you think that their attitude towards technology will rub off enough to assist with the required mindset shift?
Interesting question, Laura. First, I think the Gen Y attitude towards technology, and perhaps towards life in general (just do it!) will definately rub off over time.
The question for me is, how can an organization accelerate that effect? I think that recognizing the power of the new “diversity” that Gen Y’s bring to the talent pool, and proactively encouraging that diversity, can accelerate that effect. For example, deliberately hiring Gen Y’s where possible, rather than only bring in so-called “seasoned” talent; leveraging practices such as “reverse mentoring” to give these Gen Y folk a real “voice” in the organization can all help accelerate this kind of transformation and the benefits it will bring for the shift to Enterprise 2.0.
Can anyone tell me the working at the bottom of the picture: ‘The difference between ……………… is that little extra’