A project implements the latest version of Microsoft Exchange. Is it an IT project?
If it's about introducing new productivity tools to the business it's not. It is about business change.
A project acquires a new software package for managing insurance claims. Is it an IT project?
If it's about changing business practice it's not. It is about business change.
Two organisations decide to share their IT infrastructures. Is it an IT project?
If it's about transforming the way business is done it's not. It is about business change.
Much business change makes use of the enabling power of information technology.
However, few change projects are only about IT.
If we are to bridge the business-IT gap, IT must be seen as an enabler not instigator of change. Such projects should be business-led.
The IT organisation must be committed to business objectives and work to close the culture gap between business and IT.
Should all IT projects be business-led?
What does your CIO do to gain credibility? Do you let IT get on with it or see IT as a strategic partner?
Creative Commons image courtesy PEO, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.
I get your point, but a Unix OS upgrade or an Oracle upgrade are still IT projects. Whether the business can realize advantage from any enhancements in the new version remains to be analyzed. Certainly the upgrade would be a predecessor for any potential use of the new features, but the upgrade itself is an IT project.
If the upgrade impacts whether the business can continue to do business as usual without any interruptions, then the project may be managed by IT, but as long as it impacts the business, it is essentially an IT-business project. In our domain, we advise our teams to ensure that the business is fully aware of the ramifications of the "IT" project, even if they may not fully understand the reasoning behind it. If an o/s is out of date and no longer supported, it is in the business' best interest to allow the upgrade, since it could mean downtime for the system, and a potential loss of revenue.
Yes, it is IT's job to let the business know the risk of running on old hardware/software. But at the end of the day, the business must decide if they are willing to mitigate the risk. What if they have project with a benefit greater than the risk of the old hardware. In this case the decision may be to delay the hardware upgrade to pay for the other project. The IT department does not make the decision.
Now, what is missing from this entire discussion is where does IT fit into the picture. It is in knowing the technology and being able to communicate to business so the best decisions can be made by business. Let IT do what IT does best.
The foundation for this discussion comes from the well documented and understood issue, in IT circles at least, that the "business" should have a stronger sense of ownership of the systems they use. Like Finance, HR, Marketing and Legal, IT is a "staff" function, as opposed to a "line" function, and therefore should provide the support and infrastructure that the "business" needs to do its job.
Interestingly, the issue of business ownership is as relevant to other staff functions as it is to IT. Finance, for example, seek to get the business to own their "numbers" and struggle with the same issues that IT struggle with as far as whose "numbers" they are and the level of comprehension that business owners have over the "numbers".
I don't have an solution to the problem, but acknowledge that it is enormously frustrating for staff function professionals across the world. Part of the reason why I believe that this problem is exists is because senior personnel do not have a base of business experience and knowledge across IT, Finance, Law, Marketing etc to be able to draw on.
As a consequence, we struggle endlessly, trying to get them to understand the work we do for them and getting them to take ownership of their "systems", "numbers" etc.
I love the picture… the looks on the faces of the three women, especially the two on the left says it all.
I agree 100%. I have been saying the same thing for year. After over 15years in both business and IT, I have never seen a project that I would call an IT project.
I fully agree, IT exists by the grace of the business and the targets and goals that are set there. So let's discuss Business projects trying to achieve those goals. IT should be the enabler and not the show stopper, as usually is the case.