DQ4 & DISCUSSION

Building Better IT Leaders from the Bottom Up

Chapter 6

6-1

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Leadership Is Everyone’s Job

6-2

“Effective leadership has enormous

benefits. To realize these benefits,

leadership qualities should be explicitly

recognized, reinforced, and rewarded

at all levels of the IT organization.”

(McKeen and Smith, 2003)

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The Changing Role of the IT leader

6-3

Traditional and hierarchical IT organization is now in retreat, and there is a growing recognition that IT organizations must do a better job of inculcating leadership behaviors in all their staff.

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires …

Top-Line Focus – New technologies and applications drive the enterprise to differentiation and transformation strategies to deliver top line growth. Strong IT leadership teams are needed to take on roles to influence business leaders.

6-4

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires … (continued)

Credibility – IT must consistently deliver on results. IT must demonstrate the skills and competencies to deliver what it says it will do.

6-5

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires … (continued)

Impact – IT staff must have stronger organizational perspectives, decision-making, entrepreneurialism, and risk-assessment capabilities at lower levels because even small IT decisions can have a major impact on the organization.

6-6

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires … (continued)

Flexibility – IT staff and organizations are expected to be responsive to changing business needs. IT staffs must be proactive, have strong technical skills and the ability to quickly act in the best interests of the organization when the need arises.

6-7

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires … (continued)

Complexity – IT is expected to offer change and innovation leadership, low-cost services and lead the way through ever changing new technology opportunities.

6-8

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Transformational IT Leadership Requires … (continued)

New Technology – Staffs are increasingly mobile and their interactions with their managers are mediated by technology. New technologies change how information is acquired and disseminated, how communication takes place, how people are influenced and decisions made.

6-9

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What Makes a Good IT Leader?

6-10

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What Makes a Good IT Leader? (continued)

6-11

Strategic Vision

Solid understanding of current operations

Solid understanding of future direction

Business Understanding

Ability to Execute Enterprise Transformation

Ability to Integrate Technology with People & Processes

Political Savvy & Effective Use of Governance Structures

Organizational Understanding

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What Makes a Good IT Leader? (continued)

6-12

Create an environment of:

Trust

Accountability

Empowerment

Creating a Supportive Working Environment

Ability to concentrate on biggest payoff areas

Recognize where resources should not be used

Enhance people’s abilities

Effective Use of Resources

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What Makes a Good IT Leader? (continued)

6-13

Know where and how to exercise leadership

Adjust style to suit the situation

Flexibility of Approach

Ability to articulate contributions in business terms

Ability to interact with business leaders

Ability to educate and guide business leaders in the use of technology

Ability to Gain Business Attention

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Flexible Leadership Styles (Roberts and Mingay, 2004)

Commanding –

“Do What I Tell You”

Pacesetting –

“Do as I Do Now”

Visionary –

“Come with Me”

Affiliate –

“People come First”

Coaching –

“Try This”

Democratic –

“What do You Think”

6-14

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Effective Leadership Development Requires…