CIO OPINION
The matrix works by collecting the best available data from credible sources such as Johns Hopkins , Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation .
It uses a total of 15 different variables , all weighted appropriately , to calculate the overall risk score across 182 countries and 173 states / provinces where the company operates . The data is automatically refreshed and it is checked multiple times a day . Leaders also take into account each facility ' s capacity and local government regulations to determine the readiness to open or need to close sites . Not only does this tool help organise the return to site safely , it also helps us remain on site safely .
Bringing the business together with data
A safe and well-timed strategy that enables onsite working for those who want it , means bringing HR , facilities , the CIO organisation , the C-Suite and Sales leads together so that a sensitive , inclusive approach is taken that is tailored to the local workforce and its needs .
site . They need data to back up critical decisions . But they also need consistency .
Given the fast pace at which the pandemic shifts – with transmission rates guiding regional approaches along with the wider availability of vaccines by 2021 – having access to real-time data in order to make swift , effective and consistent decisions around onsite working is essential . With local lockdown measures still in place as we move into the new year , employees now need faith in their employer ’ s ability to move flexibly between onsite and offsite working – making the right call , at the right time .
Dell Technologies data scientists in partnership with medical professionals developed a dedicated tool , the Inversed Risk Matrix , to make sense of all the health data – the number of infections , hospitalisations , curve inclination , etc – to make informed decisions that put the health and safety of our team members and communities first .
Data-driven approaches like this help humans make better , more informed , consistent real-time decisions . But data alone cannot solve the dilemma of how and when to safely open offices . It requires a collaborative , holistic approach that ensures key stakeholders are onboard , eliminating siloes .
A safe and well-timed strategy that enables onsite working for those who want it , means bringing HR , facilities , the CIO organisation , the C-Suite and Sales leads together so that a sensitive , inclusive approach is taken that is tailored to the local workforce and its needs . This holistic approach is very much built into digital businesses already – and is an essential part of their Digital Transformation .
Indeed , businesses that enable flexible working practices , with the necessary Digital Transformation in place to empower more agile operations will thrive . They will embody resilience . For this reason , taking a data-driven approach during this pandemic can help temper any further shocks – fundamentally reassuring the workforce that their health and safety is paramount by swiftly scaling up or down on-site working . Moreover , it will elevate the business as a responsible , trustworthy employer .
Regardless of how evolved back-to-site strategies are across Europe , Middle East and Africa , flexible working is the way forward . The workplace is evolving – it is connected , it is flexible and it has served us well in this crisis . We must continue to reimagine work not as a place and time , but as an outcome .
With trust now a currency of work , transparent communication with a representative range of stakeholders is essential . Only then can the successful implementation of flexible working practices be fully embraced . But of course , to get it right , data helps . p
40 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com