When we think of digital transformation, technologies like AI or IoT immediately come to mind.
In practice, however, as organizations continue to realize that digital transformation is necessary — and that it isn’t too late to start — it’s people that need to be at the center of the journey.
For DevOps.com, Margaret Dawson detailed six human factors that, when addressed during the process, work to the benefit of digital transformation (DX):
1) Shifting the organizational culture: For DX to work, organizations need complete buy-in from everyone involved. The result is an empowered workforce across the organization, all contributing to decision-making.
“People need to connect to the change and feel they can have an impact,” explains Dawson.
2) Understanding the destination: Once buy-in takes places, an understanding of (and agreement with) the digital transformation vision is needed across the board.
Simply put, when you start, make sure the end is in mind.
Dawson cites research from Gartner showing that 50 percent of organizations “have no digital transformation metric or way to measure progress for digital transformation.” Clear metrics of success make the DX journey measurable.
3) De-silo your teams: Collaboration and digital transformation go hand in hand. When teams remain within their silos, the necessary data, analytics, and processes can’t seamlessly flow.
Laddering back up to the previous two points, “without a culture of trust and a shared agreement on the end goal from across the organization, you won’t be able to break down these silos,” Dawson explains.
4) Investing in reskilling: You have the buy-in. You have the trust and collaborative environment. But what about the technology that keeps changing and advancing?
Skill gaps are a challenge throughout the business and IT worlds, but what if instead of replacing the loyal talent who fit into — and believe in — the culture and vision that has been created, you invest in reskilling?
5) Giving UX design a front seat: When User Experience (UX) design goes bad, costs can soar, as The UX School found out.
“By starting with the user,” writes Dawson, “projects are more likely to give users the feeling they are interfacing with a human being rather than a digital thing—and ultimately, will succeed because of it.”
Case in point: Ikea’s augmented reality app lets you see your home with a new couch or dresser…but doesn’t not link you to an e-commerce option.
6) Don’t rely on digital-only connections: When was the last time you had a face-to-face meeting instead of a phone or Skype or some variety of digital communication?
When a major project such as digital transformation is underway, trust in leadership is incredibly important. Face-time — talking to, and shaking the hands of, employees, partners, customers, and users — builds this trust.
When it comes to digital transformation, despite plenty of swings, many efforts end up missing the mark. It’s up to organizational leadership to empower and enable their employees, giving them the tools and environment they need to see DX to success.