The rapid evolution of technology is transforming the traditional landscape of IT departments. Key points include:
- Employees now have autonomy in choosing work applications, shifting the control from IT departments.
- Legacy IT systems are struggling to keep up with modern cloud and mobile-first applications.
- The digital transformation poses security and control challenges for IT departments.
- Organisations must adapt by prioritising user-friendly cloud solutions and involving employees in decision-making.
The IT department was created in an era when technology was a limited resource, managed internally by a select few. Historically, employees had little input on the applications they used, with IT departments making decisions based solely on features rather than usability.
Today, the technology landscape has transformed significantly. Employees can easily access a variety of applications, from file sharing to communication platforms, independent of IT departments. This shift has led to Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) outspending Chief Information Officers (CIOs) on IT by 2017, as reported by Gartner. The transition to user-driven IT, along with the rise of cloud computing and mobile devices, has moved company data beyond traditional enterprise data centres, challenging IT departments’ control and raising security concerns.
Legacy IT systems, designed before the advent of smartphones, are becoming obsolete. These systems, like enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, were chosen without considering user experience, focusing instead on their technical features. A notable instance was in 2013 when Avon halted a $125 million software project due to its negative impact on business operations, which led to a significant drop in workforce. Today’s Digital Transformation means 40% of IT spending occurs outside the control of CIOs, favouring user-friendly cloud applications such as HubSpot Sales and Dropbox over traditional, cumbersome IT solutions.
The digital transformation is leading to a loss of control for traditional IT organisations. Employees often use cloud services and personal devices for work, a practice known as Shadow IT. Although not intended maliciously, this trend raises concerns about the security and privacy of company data. IT departments must balance empowering employees’ productivity with safeguarding sensitive information by integrating cloud applications into their systems. Gartner predicts that by 2018, half of all IT organisations will support services outside their portfolios, and a quarter of large firms will align their IT environments with consumer computing experiences.
IT departments must shift focus from exclusively purchasing legacy systems to evaluating and securing mobile and cloud applications. Quoting Alan Langhals from Deloitte Consulting, “The user experience drives adoption, and user adoption is an important first step toward realizing business value from big investments in enterprise systems.” Organisations should prioritise user-friendly, integrative, and mobile-first applications, conducting business-led pilot tests to ensure employee satisfaction before larger investments. This balance ensures that IT departments meet both employee needs and organisational security requirements, leading to a more efficient and secure working environment.
Ultimately, the evolution of IT departments into facilitators of user-driven tech adoption is crucial for future organisational success.
