Transformation post lockdown
Now that we seem to be coming out of lockdown and a semblance of normality, we can hope the worst is over. Unfortunately, it is almost certain that there will be future pandemics, it is matter of when not if.
One of the most important lessons from 2020 is the need for SMEs to be better prepared for crises, and that business resilience is at the heart of any future planning and support.
Businesses are encountering numerous challenges, increasingly now that working from home or remotely is firmly on the agenda. Businesses need to consider the impact on:
Information security (including data privacy, storage, and management)
Cloud computing
Social media
Risk management and governance
Regulatory compliance
Technology integration and upgradation
Resource management
Infrastructure management
Fraud monitoring
Business continuity/disaster recovery
The challenge for many is how to stay on top of all of the above and incorporate them into the business psyche.
If we just pick on point 6 alone there are so many options and questions; which services/platforms are a good fit? Are they overkill? Do we need them? What benefit will they bring? Are they secure enough? Do they adhere to GDPR requirements? Will they play well with my existing systems? Are my existing systems sufficient? Will make it easier for the business to continue to operate in future crises? Where do I start? And so it goes on.
Even businesses with their own technology teams are struggling, with many having junior or mid-level staff who are unable to help answer those questions. Even when they do suggest an approach, struggle to implement the necessary governance, process, policy and architecture.
So what to do? Where to start? If they can’t do it, how do you proceed? Will you have to outsource the work?
To make things worse, in many cases there is a disconnect between the business and the technology teams, a gap if you will. Priorities are slightly different, decision making is skewed as a result (according to the business) leading to unmet expectations.
Steps to take to mitigate:
Ensure clarity - clear up any misunderstandings. State the obvious, don’t assume. Teams need to understand the why and the expected impact.
Identify the owners who will be responsible for delivering the changes. If no owners are identified you risk ambiguity and lack of focus in your drive to change.
Work with the owners to detail the timeline, milestones and outcomes. This will help to set expectations and open discussions on any concerns the teams may have.
Frequent updates will be critical if you are working with a young team, necessary to keep them focused on the correct items. Lack of updates will ensure a lack of direction and a meandering approach.
If you utilise SCRUM the key events will be the review, retrospective and weekly showcase. You don’t need to understand the technology just the outcome - does it deliver what you need and to your expectations?
Review constantly against your business objectives and timelines.
Most of all provide guidance.
Arguably, from past experience the preceding steps can be transferred to any of the above with minor changes. But the core remains the same, clarity, frequent updates and check-ins against objectives and expectations.
If more help is needed, there are many outsource companies who can help.
If you have any questions or would like me to expand on the other issues, feel free to email info@scryla.co.uk