Three-quarters of CIOs believe a
shortage of skills in IT departments is hampering
change-management programmes,according to research from CIO Connect
The organisation, which represents top-level IT management,
found 73% of CIOs and IT managers questioned believed that the
progress of change-management programmes in their organisations was
being impeded by the lack of skills within their own IT
department.
Meanwhile, 64% said that they had had to introduce new leaders
into projects to ensure that programmes were a success.
“This is a very honest and enlightened admission by our members
that IT has a fundamental role to play in the evolution of
businesses and there is more to be done,” said Nick Kirkland,
managing director of CIO Connect, which conducted research among
its membership.
“Specialised training is the way forward and I am very
encouraged to see that our members recognise this problem and are
addressing it with increased training for their teams in the softer
skills of project management, leadership and communication.”
About half of the 135 chief executives and IT managers
responding to the survey said they would be increasing investment
in training over the next 12 months to ensure their staff could
contribute more in change-management programmes. Less than 4% said
investment in training was being cut.
“This research highlights the important requirement for
increased training for IT leaders and their teams in the field of
change management,” said Glyn Evans, CIO of
Birmingham City Council. “IT departments are today at the heart
of successful change-management programmes, but the leadership and
communication skills required to achieve success has, until very
recently, not been emphasised enough. By addressing these training
issues public sector services and British business competitive edge
will inevitably be
improved.”
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