One of the consistent challenges that Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and technology leaders face is the pressure that comes from business leaders and customers – more, faster, better. Business customers crystallize the pressure from shareholders, the board, and the chief executive, who are all asking the CIO to work faster to deliver more within a shorter period of time. However, what they’re really asking is […]
As an organization moves through a digital transformation or major IT initiative, it’s essential for leadership to understand how every department adds value, advances the core business objectives and aligns with the corporate strategy. This is especially true for IT, as stakeholders strive to break down the language barrier between technology and business. But the pace of change, the demands of the business, and confusion […]
“The Magnificent Seven”—starring Yul Brenner and Steve McQueen—is one of my all-time favorite films. I watched the 1960s classic again recently, and it struck me as an allegory on the importance of recruiting. At Concentre, we strive to consistently deliver excellence. To do that, it takes talented people aligned around common goals and principles. In “The Magnificent Seven,” the residents of a small village under […]
Here’s the challenge: Transform your IT organization. Drive meaningful business value and measurable ROI. Anticipate and avoid a myriad of traps, roadblocks and pitfalls. Navigate untold human factors and crucial conversations—including leadership issues, competition for limited resources and plain old naysayers. Then, once all of that is complete, you can finally begin the task of delivering a successful project. Sounds like fun, right? Fortunately, it […]
Ronald Reagan gave us a familiar dictum: “Trust, but verify.” When companies compare themselves to industry leaders or competitors, it’s often with the assumption that those other organizations have got it right. That’s sometimes the case, but it’s not always true. It’s important to observe and understand how different organizations operate. All too frequently, however, companies look to industry benchmarks as the be-all and end-all. […]
For many businesses, this is the time of year that is taken up with discussions on annual planning. On one end of the spectrum, some companies we have worked with have started their process in July and are wrapping up by the time October comes around. For others, annual planning can bleed into the new year. To some on the edges of the process, it […]
Theresa May wasn’t a huge fan of the Brexit. That’s why she might be the ideal Prime Minister to lead it. The current affairs in England and the EU have me thinking about the importance of clarity in any massive transformation. In my experience working with IT organizations, I’ve observed a fundamental relationship between the desire for change and the capability to effectively see it […]
As enterprises embark on the path to digital transformation in hopes of becoming more responsive and proactive, business leaders are recognizing the need for IT strategy. However, even with a strategic initiative in place, most IT organizations fail to effectively execute and/or deliver the desired results. In either scenario, IT executives often struggle to demonstrate the value technology brings to the business across the enterprise. […]
Most business leaders are quick to claim they put customers first. In our experience, that’s not always the case. All too often in business, revenue comes first—and the customer is a distant second. In other instances, the customer comes first—but at a detriment to the business. When a handful of customers drive the majority of revenues, business leaders want to invest in keeping those buyers […]
More often than not, business leaders tell us that their IT organizations don’t deliver what’s needed—or when it’s needed. At the same time, IT feels pressure to satisfy everyone in the company—and ends up pleasing no one. Either way, initiatives fail and everyone is dissatisfied. The reality is this: Demand for IT solutions will always be greater than supply. It’s true even in sophisticated organizations […]