MARCH - 2023AUTOTECHOUTLOOK.COM19CIO INSIGHTS"Experience is The Best Teacher": Sharing insights from over three decades of experience in technology leadership positions in different industry verticals. The goal is to share my experiences to supplement your experiential learning to avoid common pitfalls and not recreating the wheel. 1. VisionGreat technology leaders see beyond day-to-day demands and set their sights on improving processes, workflows, and optimizing the business by recommending adoption of appropriate technology advancements. They have a solid grasp of organization's business goals, business environment and where improvements need to be made. They are up to speed on technology advancements, solutions and trends that can be successfully adopted within the organization (not Hype Cycle) to define a clear and compelling IT Vision. A common mistake leader's make is being lured away from their objectives by trendy technologies, without being able to measure what those technologies' real business value might be or how they will support the mission. IT vision is communicated clearly via Enterprise Architecture components ­ Organization Architecture, Business Architecture, Application Architecture, Information Architecture and Technology Architecture. A rolling 2-3 years IT vision communicated via Enterprise Architecture at an appropriate level (concise) is mandatory to provide essential clarity.2. Promoting, Attracting, and Retaining TalentThe best workers do the best and the most work. Most companies do a poor job of finding and keeping them. It is remarkable how much more productivity an organization gets from top talent in complex occupations like information technology. High performers are an astounding 125 percent to 800 percent more productive (Source: McKinsey Global Survey: War for Talent"). A small team of A+ player can run circles around a giant team of B and C players. It is critical to have right leadership for each of the key pillars of Enterprise Architecture implementation (Business Process, Application, Information and Technology). These must be hands-on leaders with solid expertise in each of these domains, quick learners with ability to grow and have the necessary soft skills. These A+ players need to be competitively compensated along with empowerment By Ketan Palicha, CIO, AGC Automotive AmericasIMPROVING PROCESSES, WORKFLOW, AND OPTIMIZING THE BUSINESSand opportunities for growth and advancement. IT organization structure and compensation packages must be setup appropriately. Unfortunately, for most organizations, it is far easier to get additional head-counts approved than it is to change established compensation levels. However, for complex knowledge work this is counter-productive. The reason why organization does not have right leadership in key positions is because bold decisions to promote the right and best people cannot be made by insecure leaders. Insecure leaders see the smartest and highest- achieving people around them as threats. An insecure leader can effectively stunt the growth of an entire organization within its responsibility area. Also, bold decisions Ketan Palicha
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