CEO of an organization is often on the driving seat making important decisions for the growth and betterment of his organization. Gone are the days when technology was optional…we live in a time when an organization is built on technology alone. With the likes of technology such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, RPA, Bid data, automation, IoT, and so on, organizations can harness the resources and take their work processes to the next level. But with so many options available out there, who takes the call? Yes, it is the CEO on the driving seat indeed!
Digital Evolution: Really? What’s involved?
Some may wonder what exactly digital evolution is when there’s so much already available out there. Well, regardless of what technology offers, digital evolution for an organization would mean aligning and redefining the digital strategy and leveraging the best out of technology. Digital evolution has a strong impact wherein the front and back office, marketing strategy, operations strategy, customer strategy, and so on are revolutionized. The change impacts people, departments, and teams’ operation. Yes, it is a new way of working altogether. Let’s look at the role of a CEO in Digital Evolution in any organization.
Work with the evolution
For a successful business initiative and implementation of digital evolutions, the CEO needs to:
- Accept responsibility and undertake a digital business strategy
- Delegate and define the exact roles of members piloting a particular piece
- Define and plan and timelines to accomplish it
- Have people piloting the project who are as responsible and dedicated as the CEO
There will be several questions on the implementation of a digital strategy, and the CEO needs to answer all of them. CEO needs to understand the technology well, and most importantly the impact that it can have on an organization. CEO needs to have a clear vision on the impact of digital evolution in the organization and it needs to be communicated to leaders and other team members. As a driver, the organization should be able to see where the CEO is planning to take the organization.
Cultural barriers need to be removed
There is a set culture that organizations have been okay to work with, but what was okay yesterday may not be the same today. Culture of an organization can conflict with the digital revolution and impede the transformation. For example, agile technologies and dynamic leaders are not welcomed in some organizations. Well, this can negatively impact an organization today. People may not be keen on changing or accepting the new way of doing things. Some may be worried about their jobs as well. CEOs need to attack these barriers and remove them from people’s minds and work processes.
No two organizations are same, and so CEOs need to first understand the business, people, customers, culture, and existing digital technology before going out with a full-blown plan of digital strategy for the organization. Yes, digital technology is at its peak but there is more to come. The goals, implementation, and efforts revolving around the digital revolution should be clear in people's mind in order to achieve the same result…success.
