Change: It's happening and it has your CEO worried

Written on Jun 11 2008 Filed under: Business Information, The Future 3,126 views, 8 comments

by Michael Keen

This survey was 1000 CEO's worldwide and the top-ranked issue was, you guessed it; CHANGE.  Eighty-three percent say that their company is facing significant change in the next three years, and that is up from 65% in 2006.  Another frightening finding here is that there is a widening gap between the expected change and the CEOs ability to adapt to it successfully.

So what are the top changes from the CEO perspective:

• market factors (48%)
• people skills (48%)
• technological factors (35%)

An interesting point here is that a large percentage of the CEOs surveyed are changing their business models (69%).  This shift in business model will capitalize on, you guessed it again, VIRTUALIZATION technologies.

I've always said that the enterprise that can respond rapidly to new opportunities and threats (read change), that can bring new products to market at the pace that the market demands, and can move swiftly into new markets and regions will outperform the enterprise that can't adapt as quickly.  To thrive in today's world where business as usual is all about change, it requires a new kind of enterprise.  I think these CEOs see this and are moving quickly to create that new enteprise and design it to be revolutionary.  It will change quickly and easily, respond to, or for that matter, cultivate change.

I'll step up and say it, I think the "dynamic delivery center architecture" put forth by Citrix will be a key component in the recreation of the enterprise to meet the demands of change.

Thoughts?

Comments

Matt Lesak wrote Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-11-2008 11:04 PM

Let's hope the CEOs will communicate with their CIOs before the change is designed and ready to be implemented.  I know we've all been there for the meetings where the business units realize they should have included IT before they decided on a direction.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Guest wrote Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-13-2008 9:59 AM

I couldn't agree more.  Our ability to respond is diminished by an expectation that we will be able to implement every request, regardless of merit.  Virtualization is a fabulous technology, but it doesn't fix governance issues.

Patrick Rouse wrote Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-13-2008 10:33 AM

Come on, you have to love when the CEO goes golfing with his/her buddies and comes back with an inked deal to use some technology enterprise wide, without consulting the people that have to implement it. :)

Michael Keen wrote Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-13-2008 10:56 AM

Governance is the critical component.  If a company doesn't have a good foundation they are doomed to mediocrity.  In the past many companies could get by despite weak IT management practices.  Today, not so much.  There is research to show that companies with good IT management practices generate up to 40% greater returns than their competitors.

I agree wholeheartedly with you that governance needs to be a top priority with executives.

Guest wrote Re: Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-13-2008 3:46 PM

...wait that happens elsewhere?  I thought we were alone!  :)

Matt Lesak wrote Re: Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-15-2008 9:56 AM

Hard to believe isn't it?  ;)

Guest wrote Re: Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-15-2008 7:26 PM

hehe.....that happens about 3 times a week where i work. Notice they never ask the people who make it happen what they fear the most? I think it is what Patrick just said.......i know it is for me.

Michael Keen wrote Re: Re: Let's hope they talk to their CIOs

on 06-15-2008 11:24 PM

so I'll ask the question:  what do you fear the most?  I speak regulary to C-level and upper management types.  Tell me please.  I think this is very valuable information.  In the immortal words of Jerry McGuire: "help me to help you"

Cheers
Michael

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