As an enterprise that helps government agencies work to improve their operations we often recommend and manage digital transformations. Because our focus in on the processes being digitally transformed, we know that keys to success lie outside of the technology. Unfortunately, many digital transformations happen within the confines of an IT organization that is adept at managing technology but has limited expertise in business process operations and improvement.
The goal of every digital transformation is process improvement – not digital transformation. Transforming an inefficient manual process into a digital process yields an inefficient digital process. Thus the mantra: Process Before Tool – improve the process before implementing new digital tool.
CIO Magazine recently published an interesting article that clearly identifies the pitfalls of digital transformation:
7 Sins of Digital Transformation by Isaac Sacolick. In it the author lists the 7 sins as:
- Focusing on the technology, not the business outcomes
- Prioritizing everything while ignoring market trends and customer needs
- Neglecting change management from the start
- Expecting IT leaders to know how to lead transformation initiatives
- Assuming self-organizing teams will meet security and compliance requirements
- Investing in AI without a strategy or data governance
- Declaring digital transformation a journey without communicating a roadmap
This eye-opening list illustrates the foundational aspects that are necessary to make digital transformation a successful endeavor. Most importantly, this list illustrates how these foundational aspects have very little to do with technology. Most of these items can be handled by leveraging people with skills in process improvement, change management, project management, and communications. Ignoring these skills jeopardizes the success of any digital transformation project.
The full article can be found HERE.