DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

WHAT TYPE OF TRANSFORMATION DO YOU NEED?

In the face of this unprecedented disruption and complex environment, organizations are seeking to build a competitive advantage to scale or keep their legacy position. To do that, a transformation is imperative.  The question we shall ask is: what type of transformation does your company need? Why most transformations fail or fall short in generating value from their targets?

 There are two important strategies that IT leaders and managers need to consider for a successful transformation. One is a strategy for change and transformation, such as a new target operating model, modernizing core systems, and standardizing processes, infrastructure, and applications.

The second strategy is that organization has to develop the right functional capabilities to drive and sustain the transformation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A FIT IT FUNCTION

Most transformation fails not because of a lack of talent or resources, but it is due to a lack of a holistic approach to achieving the long-run transformation.

Common pitfalls that may lead transformation efforts to fail include poor portfolio, program, and project management, lack of adequate capabilities in managing vendors and contracts, which can result in heavy costs and jeopardize the entire technology-enabled transformation.

WHAT TYPE OF TRANSFORMATION DO YOU NEED?

There are three main questions to answer to develop a fit, transformation-ready IT strategy:

·       Which specific capabilities are needed to support the transformation? Different types of transformation require different strengths.

·       How good are my capabilities today, and how good do they need to be? Organizations should identify where, and how much, muscle is required to reach the desired target.

·       What is the right way to improve capabilities? Leaders must define a manageable set of clear, outcome-focused initiatives to improve capabilities in the areas where they are needed most.

To answer these questions, an IT organization can use the IT-CMF Framework (IT-Capability Maturity Framework) which was developed by the Innovative Value Institute (IVI). The IT-CMF Framework is the only framework that aligns IT with Business to create value. The framework guides consist of a clear and thorough analysis and discussions to identify the right functional capabilities needed for transformation; and describe the practices, outcomes, and metrics for success necessary to strengthen these critical capabilities.

DIFFERENT TRANSFORMATION TYPE NEEDS DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES

Before starting any transformation efforts, organizations need to have a clear view of its current capabilities, then assess the capabilities gap to strengthen when getting ready for any transformation. The framework provides a structured and comprehensive set of 32 capabilities that help evaluate and improve the management of IT both strategically and from a business-value added perspective. Each capability of the IT-CMF consists of capability building blocks (CBBs) which provides a set of criteria and questions to assess maturity levels and metrics to measure the contribution to business value. These capabilities are organized into nine groups that address the different ways that technology drives business value. (See below)

TESTING RESILIENCE

TESTING RESILIENCE

What can we learn from Ramadan Resilience?

Testing resilience is at the heart of Ramadan. As we bid farewell to Ramadan, I started reflecting on some of the new habits I have developed which are key to build my ability to adapt, grow, prosper and strengthen my own resilience.

During Ramadan, Muslims practice one month of fasting from sunrise until sundown. Most people think that fasting is the act of not eating anything, but drinking water is allowed. However, complete fasting includes not drinking any water.  At the sundown, Iftar is the meal that breaks your fast, and Suhoor is a meal taken just before sunrise, before the day of fasting starts. It is also recommended to eat in moderation. Waking up in the middle of the night to drink water and eat or sometimes stay up late until Suhoor did mess up my sleep, my schedule, and some routines, which makes it very hard to perform at work during the day. Ramadan is intended to increase self-control in all areas, including food, sleeping, and the use of time

Based on my own experience of years of practicing resilience during the Holy month of Ramadan, I’ve discovered a few fundamental things you can do to actually evaluate, manage, and strengthen your own resilience in the same way as you increase the resiliency of your personal or work life.

 Resilience - Fasting drives you out of your comfort zone and forces you to develop that sense of a minimum way of life. Fasting gives you the ability to survive, even when you are deprived of the most basic of all needs. This is the need for food, drink. If you cannot satisfy this basic survival need, it dominates your interest and concern. A hungry person will not be very interested in socializing, learning, or working, but you still have the ability to survive. Think of Fasting as a resilience exercise. Basically, we rehearse the worst-case scenario before an actual crisis hits us.  Ramadan is a test to help develop resilience through sacrifice and deal with the challenges of coping and adapting during the month of Ramadan. Learning to adapt to change and build resilience can help us navigate the challenging times ahead. 

Clear sense of purpose - Fasting helps you build a purpose and meaning in life. Without purpose and meaning in life, it would be very hard to survive any challenge. By minimizing food and drinks during Ramadan, we give more room to spiritual time, which symbolizes compassion, reflection, and willpower. The lesson here is we need to be taught, armed, and build resilience before a problem happens. Learn to adapt and embrace change, the reality of life, and make new habits and break old habits. In order to survive a big problem; you need to have a bigger goal and purpose. That’s the only thing that will help you to bounce back when a problem hits. 

Hope - Breaking the fast at sunset is a reminder of developing hope. That any problem you will be facing will be over. Avoiding any negative self-talk. We face difficulties in life, and one way to build resilience is to have hope. Changing people’s social system, economic system, political system. Etc. and for people to believe that change is possible is by seeing hope. The emotional thoughts that people may have can affect them physically. Hope builds courage and strong will 

An attitude of gratitude - Fasting helps us develop an attitude of gratitude. Recognizing that everything we have is a special gift to us. Why do we forget to be grateful? Gratitude helps build resilience by fostering adaptive coping mechanisms. By managing positive thoughts and emotions like satisfaction and happiness and counting our blessings and not taking things for granted, it enhances our emotional resilience. It builds our inner strength to manage stress.