What do you do if your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management?

Fundamentally till Information Technology is seen only as a facilitator it will fail in the organisation right from the top, There wont be a seat on the Leadership table, nor will there be respect at Operational level. IT teams who believe & work as if they are business and not facilitators will never have this problem.

It has been my experience that "leading by example" is the best way to get your team to accomplish anything (even collaborating with other teams). If you have earned your team's respect, they will follow your lead and the team will be successful in most/if not all endeavors. This may well include additional meetings (with all teams involved)/team building activities (so all team members can get to know each other)/new collaboration tools/etc.

Understanding the root cause is great first step. Reflect also on conflicting directions business vs IT top down. Another reason might be cultural company differences and not knowing goals of the other teams.

In some organizations, there may be a prevailing culture that values individual achievements over teamwork, leading team members to prioritize their own tasks and goals over collaborative efforts. This culture might be reinforced by performance metrics or rewards systems that focus on individual performance rather than collective success. As a result, team members may resist collaboration because they perceive it as secondary to their personal objectives or because they fear it may impact their individual recognition or advancement within the organization.

If your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management, start by assessing the reasons behind their reluctance. Engage in open dialogue to understand their concerns and perspectives. It could be due to unclear communication, fear of change, or perceived threats to individual roles. Identifying these barriers is the first step in fostering a more collaborative and cohesive team environment.

Step back and think through if goals are set to Forster collaboration for business outcome or technology towers. E.g. a tech cloud journey does not necessarily help mid term business outcome and therefore not from customer perspective. Explanation and different perspectives might be required to bring teams together.

If your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management, clear and transparent communication of goals is crucial. Ensure that everyone understands the collective objectives and the benefits of collaborative efforts. By aligning individual tasks and projects with overarching goals, you can motivate team members to work together towards common outcomes, fostering a more cohesive and collaborative environment.

First, make clearly SOP (every detail things) and make sure to get insight from the Team first or previously prosedure. Implement Team details just like facing end users, automatically we can raise performance Team and the organization.

Help both teams recognize shared objectives and goals. By aligning their efforts towards common targets, it becomes easier to emphasize the value of collaboration and the benefits it can bring to everyone involved.

If your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management, providing them with the right tools can make a significant difference. Introducing collaborative software and platforms can facilitate communication, streamline workflows, and encourage teamwork. Demonstrating the effectiveness and efficiency of these tools can help team members recognize the value of collaboration and may reduce resistance, leading to improved cooperation and productivity.

A tool can help to make work more effective and efficient. I still believe a fool with a tool is still a fool. A broken process in a tool is a broken process. Missing direction or conflicting goals with a modern tool risks even to make it worse as colleagues hide behind the tool. Right tool for the right purpose! The order is purpose, direction. Alignment first. Then add tools.

Implementing user-friendly collaboration platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana can streamline communication, file sharing, and project management, making it easier for team members to collaborate effectively.

Offer training sessions or resources that focus on collaboration skills and tools. This could include workshops on effective communication, team-building exercises, or training in collaborative software tools that facilitate joint work.

If your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management, fostering trust is essential. Organize team-building activities and open forums to address concerns and build mutual understanding. Encourage open communication and be transparent about the benefits of collaboration. By creating a supportive and trusting environment, team members are more likely to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and work towards common goals, reducing resistance and improving overall team performance.

If your IT team is resistant to collaboration in Operations Management, implementing clear and structured processes can be beneficial. Establish guidelines and workflows that outline roles, responsibilities, and communication channels. By having well-defined processes in place, team members can understand expectations and the benefits of collaboration more clearly. This structured approach can help reduce resistance, enhance teamwork, and foster a more collaborative and efficient work environment.

Embrace failure to learn and create an open culture to share learnings. Never shoot the messenger! Reward to share openly failures but not finger pointing. Encourage actively lessons learned sharing.

Clear communication and addressing concern is of core value. Demonstrate that failure is acceptable than never trying. Let your team be more responsible by leading certain tasks.

If your IT team resists collaborating in operations management, first identify underlying causes, such as unclear roles, fear of added workload, or cultural barriers. Address these by promoting open communication, clarifying responsibilities, and fostering a collaborative culture. Encouraging regular cross-departmental meetings can help bridge gaps and align both teams toward shared goals.