Has Covid increased IT’s credibility and influence amongst the C-suite and business execs?

Question

Answer

The conversation has changed. We were always seen as technologists, but now we're being brought in to solve business problems. And so I open my tool chest, which I've always had, but now everyone's like, "This person knows how to do data, process, and technology." And every company needs those three pieces of the puzzle in order to be successful. I think it has to do with the rise of how important data is to every company's existence over the past couple of years. Data drives so much of how you operate the company, the products you build, the way you support and service your customers, how you support your employees. Many companies don’t struggle because of a lack of technology, they struggle because they don't understand their data and they don't understand their processes. I think what's finally starting to happen is data has gone from a second class citizen to now the only thing that matters. CIOs right now are probably more important than they've ever been and they're in the heart of what many companies are doing every day to drive strategy and innovation.

The CIO can look at the process and figure out...How do we do things? How do we measure things? Are we running things in a process that scales and that is able to be measured and repeatable? Many CIOs have been operating the data infrastructure and program for years and no one paid a lot of attention to it. Now, companies are starting to realize that it's not just about the technology, it's also about the process. How are you driving automation? How are you driving speed to market? The underlying process of how you do things has become so important. For example, you're never going to implement an RPA technology/program if you have bad business processes.

So I honestly feel that CIOs are now sitting at the center of conversations on business strategy, priorities, and initiatives. Some people ask me if IT has gotten closer to the business? And I'm like, "IT is a business." We're not some separate entity that sits over somewhere else. Many times we are very much a part of and integrated into the business. We are a business ourselves. I mean, I have an organization to run, I have investments that I have to make. I think there's a very different world for CIO's than there was even just a few years ago.

Answer

Yes, our ability to seamless deliver during time of crisis has certainly solidified credibility and provided a more comfortable seat at the table.

Answer

Of course. They have a better understanding of the need of IT, invite IT to business meetings and listen more carefully to IT advice.

Has Covid increased IT’s credibility and influence amongst the C-suite and business execs?

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