Directors and IT, and IT directors

In the face of multiple challenges and opportunities, in a turbulent business environment, chief executives are seeking to create more flexible and adaptable organizations, increasingly taking the form of networks, with electronic links forwards to customers, backwards to suppliers and sideways to business partners.

Abstract

In the face of multiple challenges and opportunities, in a turbulent business environment, chief executives are seeking to create more flexible and adaptable organizations. Increasingly these are taking the form of networks, with electronic links forwards to customers, backwards to suppliers and sideways to business partners. These networks are becoming global, bringing together all those who wish to contribute a proportion of their time to a particular mission. The staff of the network organization need to be supported by a communications network that is itself flexible and adaptable, and able to facilitate multifunctional, multi-location and multi-national team working. In the main the major constraints concern people, their skills and attitudes, and the management of technology, rather than the technology itself. IT professionals, and particularly IT directors, are sought who are able to facilitate change. IT directors require directional qualities which are distinct from those demanded of managers. They need a broad, strategic awareness and perspective concerning the requirements for responsive organizations, with continuing processes for adaptation and learning to meet the changing needs of customers.