IT Companies: Boring to Non-Boring Mantra.

In the fast-paced world of technology, IT companies often find themselves facing challenges to stand out from the competition and maintain a vibrant, engaging company culture. Making an IT company non-boring requires a strategic approach that aligns with the founder's vision, caters to stakeholders' needs, and fosters a creative brand identity. This article outlines ten key steps to achieve this goal.?

Understand the Founder's #bigdreams

Every successful #IT company starts with a visionary founder/s who has a big dream. Understanding and embracing the founder's original vision is crucial for building a non-boring company culture. By aligning company values and actions with the founder's vision, employees feel a stronger sense of purpose and commitment, as demonstrated in Simon Sinek's book "Start With Why" (2009).

Articulate the #WHY

Clearly articulating the "why" behind the company's existence is essential for creating a compelling brand story. Research by Khalifa et al. (2015) highlights the significance of a strong organizational narrative in shaping stakeholders' perceptions and emotional connections with a company.

Carefully Focus on the #Stakeholder #DNA :

Identifying and understanding the unique characteristics and needs of stakeholders, including clients and employees, is pivotal in tailoring the company's strategies and offerings. Empirical studies by Homburg et al. (2017) emphasize the importance of customer-centricity in driving business success. The proper understanding of the product onion (core to augmented layer) is essential at this stage.?

Create a Robust #Brand Helix: Big Dream, Clientele, and Employee:

The brand helix, which intertwines the company's big dream, clientele, and employees, forms a powerful framework to build a non-boring IT company. Referencing the works of Kapferer (2012) on brand identity and reputation, this section explores the symbiotic relationship between the company's mission, target audience, and internal culture. Every company should not be the happy-faced #google office. It could be unique, simple and as it is!

Hire a Head of #Marketing Who Understands this Helix Like Popcorn:

Appointing a skilled Head of Marketing who comprehends and embraces the brand helix is critical. Drawing insights from McCracken's theory of culture and consumption (1986), this section discusses how marketing leadership with a deep understanding of the brand helix can develop innovative and engaging marketing strategies.

Do Competitor #benchmarking Globally and Locally:

Conducting a thorough competitor benchmarking analysis, both globally and locally, allows the company to identify gaps in the market and differentiate itself from competitors. Academic works by Dibb et al. (2012) illustrate the significance of competitive intelligence in developing effective marketing strategies.

Develop a Correct Representative Axis for the Positioning Map:

Using competitor benchmarking insights, #IT companies can create a representative axis for the positioning map that visualizes their unique value proposition relative to competitors. This section references Ries and Trout's work on positioning theory (1981) to elucidate the importance of effective market positioning.

Make a Detailed #brand Architecture:

A detailed brand architecture provides a roadmap for organizing product and service offerings, enhancing brand coherence, and facilitating customer understanding. Keller's brand equity model (1993) serves as a relevant reference in this section to explain the significance of brand architecture in creating a non-boring IT company.

Develop a 'Halo with Fun':

Introducing an element of fun and excitement within the company culture can significantly contribute to making an IT company non-boring. Drawing insights from Csikszentmihalyi's theory of flow (1990), this section explores how incorporating enjoyable experiences can boost employee morale and productivity.

Eat, Drink, and Sleep: (and Of course Work)

The continuous commitment required to maintain a non-boring IT company. By nourishing the company's core values and consistently living the brand helix, an IT company can create a thriving and captivating work environment.

Conclusion:

Transforming an IT company into a non-boring, exciting, and dynamic entity demands a strategic and multi-faceted approach. By aligning with the founder's vision, understanding stakeholder needs, and fostering a creative brand identity, IT companies can stand out in the competitive landscape and achieve long-term success. The key lies in hiring the right leadership, conducting in-depth competitor analysis, and infusing fun into the company culture to create a lasting impact.

Are you looking for this #change ?