CIOReview APAC Weekly Brief
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from CIOReview APAC
A featured contribution from Leadership Perspectives: a curated forum reserved for leaders nominated by our subscribers and vetted by the CIOReview Advisory Board.
ENAP
A Successful Adoption Of Technology: Prioritizing People And Purpose
In this society, we no longer want to wait in lines; we want everything to be immediate, with excellent results, and we demand instant responses from goods and/ or service companies. The advancement and widespread use of technology have brought about accelerated changes in social and cultural paradigms, directly impacting our day-to-day lives.
But have we ever reflected on who makes up these companies? These organizations are comprised of workers like you and me, coming from different areas and coming together in brainstorming sessions to find ways to meet customer expectations, which often include ourselves. Isn't that paradoxical?
However, despite having access to technology, not everyone is familiar with it, and we must take the time to interpret the demands of customers, which may seem "so simple" and logical to us. Nevertheless, we often find it quite challenging to implement these solutions within the company due to its culture.
Culture is the DNA of a company, shaped by the experiences of its diverse workers and the overall organizational structure, which can hinder reaching agreements that would allow for obvious solutions. This is where it becomes essential for a company to internalize the concept of change management and, when seeking solutions, to focus on people under the "customer-centric" concept. This can refer to both internal customers (employees) and external customers (companies, individuals, etc.).
Sometimes, we get carried away by the fascination of technology, falling in love with it, and wanting to implement it in our work at all costs. However, some projects do not always succeed because they are too disruptive for the current moment, due to a lack of proper change management, people's fear of change, or simply because employees were not consulted about their needs or the benefits they could gain from using such technology.
“Culture Is The Dna Of A Company, Shaped By The Experiences Of Its Diverse Workers And The Overall Organizational Structure, Which Can Hinder Reaching Agreements That Would Allow For Obvious Solutions”
Based on my experience with operational and technological projects, I could gather and define the following tips to consider for project development:
- "Fall in love with the problem, not the solution": It is important to understand the problem or "pain point" thoroughly before seeking the most suitable solution.
- NEVER lose sight of the "customer-centric" objective: People are the most relevant aspect and should be at the center of decision-making.
- We must understand that technology does not replace people: Technology complements users in performing tedious and/or repetitive tasks, and its implementation should allow individuals to have more time to dedicate themselves to creativity, relationship-building, emotional aspects, critical thinking, and more.
- A cultural effort is needed to adopt, adapt, and develop these technologies within the company. An essential activity is to identify the "early adopters," who are the first employees willing to embrace the idea of using the technology and understanding its benefits. They will help spread the solution within the organization through communication.
- We must be able to identify the opportunities and implications of each technology before implementing them, remembering that every coin has two sides. Thus, every development is a great opportunity to solve a "pain point," but we must consider the different nuances that impact its implementation to ensure everyone can benefit.
- We need to develop a structured process that can also be implemented flexibly, where we have clear steps and objectives for each stage, using methodologies that adapt to each project.
- Finally, leadership plays a crucial role in the development of solutions and new opportunities: teamwork, empathy, and a shared purpose.
When it comes to the implementation of technological projects, we often place all the emphasis on the tool and forget about what exists beforehand: culture, tradition, organizational values, among others. Similarly, we forget that people are the fundamental element in any process of change, and the success of a project largely depends on their acceptance and adoption by those who will use it. Therefore, it is also essential to know and understand people, addressing their needs and concerns before embarking on the implementation of new technologies.
This is an invitation to think outside the box, to see opportunities in technologies, and to make them part of our personal and professional daily lives, without forgetting our purpose or objective. It could be individual, when talking about our own lives, or collective, when speaking about a company, where we all must be on the same boat and "row" towards the same goal
