Welcome to the Harvey Nash IT Leadership event from the Belfry in the West Midlands. The venue, which has hosted the golf Ryder Cup four times and has be the setting for many great exhibitions, is today host to the second event in a series being run across Europe by Harvey Nash to explore the rapidly changing environment IT Leaders are operating in.
This event is being presented by the Harvey Nash Midlands team who are represented at the podium by Natalie Raybould. Simon Wassall, European Managing Director, is present to talk on behalf of the Harvey Nash Group.
It is the 11th year Harvey Nash has produced the IT Leadership survey and Simon states that he believes this year’s contribution is the most comprehensive analysis we have ever produced. This year the survey has taken on a pan-European focus, and there is a compare and contrast section for each European country that Harvey Nash operates in.
John Whiting introduces the survey results; he thanks the 1,300+ IT leaders who participated in the survey making it the most content rich in Harvey Nash’s history. Some of the key areas of research include the vital importance of collaboration for IT leaders within a recession. There are also a number of other tactical concerns that IT leaders must focus on during the next 12 months but without a strategic focus on collaboration many of these tactical activities will fail according to the survey respondents.
John outlines that soft skills are becoming more important that ever, communicating, influencing, and managing change are all key. With the speed of change now so rapid, only those IT leaders who are quick to react and flexible to adapt to new economic conditions will succeed. To compound the complexity for the IT leaders, the margin for error is now so slim that every day IT leaders must be operating at the top of their game, working harder and leading by example to ensure success.
Looking at the passion with which IT leaders responded to questions about skills, it is clear that talent is still vitally important to the technology function. Skills shortages remain prominent but the emphasis on which skills and where those skills can be found is evolving. IT leaders must evolve with it.
The personal brand is a key way to do this. An IT leader with a strong personal brand will be better positioned to manage their team and represent the technology function within the recessionary industry.
John outlines five tips to help the IT leaders in the room build and grow their personal brand – (1) recognise the importance of your personal brand, (2) research your brand (know what your brand currently is and what you want it to be), (3) the get your message out internally and then (4) get your message out externally. Finally, (5) get your message out consistently… brands take a lot of time and effort to build, only when you invest in them will they pay back.
Alex Blues takes the podium to reflect the PA Consulting Group analysis from the 2009 IT Leadership Report. He confirms that he sees as much opportunity as risk in the current environment. He also states that when times were good technology was used to pursue innovation in isolation but that one of the positive outcomes of the recession has been that it has brought collaboration to the fore. Business is now driving innovation as a way to survive, and technology is becoming the enabler to collaboration and that survival. IT leaders are now looking more at outcomes than outputs; this longer term approach is a positive development says Alex.
Outsourcing is too big to fail. This is how it was described in the report and how Alex believes it exists in reality. However, as it continues to grow Alex warns us that the benefit of outsourcing must be shared. Doing a great deal now, and driving down your suppliers cost (and therefore margin), may not lead to good relationships and positive deals in future. As mentioned earlier, brands take a long time to build and very little time to destroy. Alex concludes that while outsourcing is still growing the aim must be to improve quality. Cost control is important in the current climate, but companies cannot rush forward into outsourcing without a long term sustainable model for all parties.
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he final section of the event sees Spencer Young, Sales Director of Harvey Nash Outsourcing and Offshore Services, leading the Q&A session. The panel of industry commentators is made up of Trevor Didcock, Group CIO, Homeserve, Chris Ford, IT Director, Nottingham City Council, Graham Benson, IT Director, Mandmdirect.com and Richard Newsome IT Director, Cadbury plc.
While the audience is digesting the results of the survey, Spencer asks the panel to offer their view on the skills needed in a recession. All four panellists provide thoughtful views on the skills needed, the majority opinion being that the skills are similar to those needed in a boom time but just utilised in a different way.
As the session progresses more questions emerge from the audience, a significant proportion of the questions focus on how to measure success in innovation. Collaboration also comes under scrutiny and specifically how to minimise the risk of wasting effort, money and time in unsuccessful collaboration. The role of Generation Y is touched upon within the debate. It is claimed from the audience that the disruptive nature of innovation sits better with leaderships teams who have representation from younger members. The panel agrees that younger leaders provide a different way of thinking and can help drive innovation change throughout the organisation.
Outsourcing and Offshoring questions emerge as the debate continues. How to maintain the focus on the business requirements during a long term, ongoing, outsourcing project is something the panel are asked to explore.
The event finishes with the discussion ongoing, but it will continue in the bar afterwards as the IT Leaders in the audience, the speakers, and the representatives from Harvey Nash enjoy a drink, some food and a lively networking session.