////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// FEATURE: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
that data was manually transcribed by
employees to a spreadsheet.
Digitising the process meant that Internet
of Things (IoT) enabled devices were linked
to a mobile app that transfers the data
directly from the site being inspected to
the device.
Not only does this result in streamlined
operations but also a better allocation of
resources for the customer and the ability
to overlay real-time analytics onto the data
for preventative maintenance analysis.
Digital Transformation is more than just an
enabler for companies to operate effectively.
It has significant potential from an
employment perspective as well.
Educational institutions need to move
away from a knowledge-based structure
towards an innovation and capability-
based environment.
This provides students with the skills required
for a digital world.
Ultimately, Digital Transformation has two
aspects.
Firstly, there is the business change required
to remain competitive.
Secondly, it is to give people the
opportunity to accelerate their thinking
outside the box and enabling them to
drive transformation themselves in their
chosen industries. n
Desmond Struwig, Executive Head of Digital
at Decision Inc
Gartner identifies six
barriers to becoming
a digital business
As organisations continue to embrace Digital Transformation, they are finding
that digital business is not as simple as buying the latest technology — it requires
significant changes to culture and systems.
A
Garnter Inc survey found that only
a small number of organisations
have been able to successfully
scale their digital initiatives beyond the
experimentation and piloting stages.
“The reality is that digital business
demands different skills, working practices,
organisational models and even cultures,”
said Marcus Blosch, Research Vice President
at Gartner.
“To change an organisation designed for a
structured, ordered, process-oriented world
to one designed for ecosystems, adaptation,
learning and experimentation is hard. Some
organisations will navigate that change
and others that can’t change will become
outdated and be replaced.”
www.intelligentcio.com
Gartner has identified six barriers that
CIOs must overcome to transform their
organisation into a digital business.
Barrier No. 1: A change-
resisting culture
Digital innovation can be successful only in a
culture of collaboration. People must be able
to work across boundaries and explore new
ideas. Most organisations are stuck in a cult ure
of change-resistant silos and hierarchies.
“Culture is organisational ‘dark matter’ –
you can’t see it, but its effects are obvious,”
added Blosch.
“The challenge is that many organisations
have developed a culture of hierarchy
and clear boundaries between areas of
responsibilities. Digital innovation requires
the opposite – collaborative cross-functional
and self-directed teams that are not afraid
of uncertain outcomes.”
CIOs aiming to establish a digital culture
should start small. Define a digital mindset,
assemble a digital innovation team and
shield it from the rest of the organisation
to let the new culture develop. Connections
between the digital innovation and core
teams can then be used to scale new ideas
and spread the culture.
Barrier No. 2: Limited sharing
and collaboration
The lack of willingness to share and
collaborate is a challenge not only at
INTELLIGENTCIO
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