9 Enablers of IT innovation

Innovation is required to be competitive and even survive these days. Therefore it is very common for senior leaders to champion and lead digital transformations within their organizations.

There are several enablers that senior leaders and their IT teams need to be cognizant of for delivering innovations. They need to have well thought out strategies that allow them to manage day-to-day operations and enable cross-functional teams to successfully move great ideas from innovation labs to IT operations.

Below are 9 enablers that I have come across that worked in different programs I have either been a part of or led.

1.???Efficient IT operations

Adopt latest Technologies and use them to reconfigure IT Operations. Simplify and streamline the environment which will enable the implementation of innovative ideas. It will also enable digital transformation by freeing up resources and funding that are currently engaged in keeping the lights on.??

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2. Effective Collaboration

Build partnerships between IT executive leaders and their peers to enable a high level of collaboration between IT staff and their business counterparts within the company. Adopt agile development practices, foster a product mindset, and create innovation Centers of Excellence.

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3. Good Support Structure

Create structures for connecting workers throughout the organization, for reviewing and approving proposals, etc. to provide avenues to vet and prioritize ideas for their potential as well as to prove that their ideas work and could actually deliver returns.

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4. Direct Access to Customers

Have IT and Business meet regularly with the people buying your company’s products or services so that they can to hear directly from them what they want and desire.

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5. Effective Change Management

After building a well-oiled IT machine that enables running day-to-day operations flawlessly, CIO’s should focus on managing change. They need to be creative and empower their teams to ideate. They need to know how to partner with third parties. They should be willing to take risks and be courageous and try new things. And by communicating that and walking the walk, they inspire their people.

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6. Proper Allocation of Resources

Commit time and budget to innovation as it delivers results. Thinly stretched IT departments with overworked team’s means we are more focused on keeping the lights on.

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7. Design to Scale

Create structures such as architecture review committees, business incubators, etc. that bring security, governance, integration, and other resources to innovations that have proven themselves in testing and are ready to move from MVP to broader use. This will allow for operationalizing innovations that have proven to deliver value.

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8. Train your Team Members

Provide needed training and create learning opportunities quickly for staff as part of their regular jobs to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology. Use train the trainer method and lunch and learn sessions.

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9. Hire Great Talent

Identify the right people with the right skills for each endeavor as a range of skill sets is required. Encourage diversity of thought by hiring people from different backgrounds and making sure junior level workers and cross team workers have the opportunity to contribute (innovative ideas sometimes come from workers in a completely different area).?

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