.If you're not a computer expert, but a businessman, maybe you felt like an illiterate at some moment, hearing many jargons, acronyms and titles used in computing. Well, it should not happen in this way.
I'll try to share with you what I have been learning in more than 25 years working as an specialist in the Information Technology (IT), because it is time for you know how to choose and discuss IT solutions for your business, rather than delegate by omission, or stay 100% depending on IT people. An IT decision can boost or destroy your company.
Even being an IT specialist, my knowledge, experience and interests include business, engineerings, administration, entrepreneurship, quality assurance, best practices, operations and processes. Although I had began early with the electronics, computer science, and math, I never limited myself to these knowledges, always looking for practical applications of these sciences in the companies I've been working, as: electrical engineering, construction, financial, industrial, car rentals, IT and software.
I've learned with clients and leadership of teams, how important is to emphasize on the IT applications, rather than treat it as a core activity, making the complexities of IT imperceptible to customers.
Currently, I feel comfortable and prepared to discuss any matter of the business environment, whether in the strategic or operational level, be about the administrative, financial, Human Resource (HR), accounting, costing, production, logistics, fleet, CRM, TQC, etc. Also, the interest in people, their cultures and contexts, makes customers more engaged and interested in contributing and working together, making it easier to eliminate their problems, find solutions and/or make improvements.
As in the fashion industry, there is the "fashion technology", which are not always what's the best in IT, but will make many professionals go in their search and advocacy. They will try to deploy these technologies in your company, because those will keep them updated to the labor market. Therefore, entrepreneurs, directors and managers should be alert to this. So what do about it?
Being the IT so strategic to your business, such as Marketing, HR, Logistics, Financial, Costing, Production, Manufacturing, etc., then you should devote all attention to the IT as you do for the others. Remember that an IT decision can leverage or destroy your company.
Here are some tips:
- Require simplicity, eliminating the use of jargons, acronyms and/or titles specific of the IT area, substituting them by synonyms or analogies of common sense, or normally used in your industry.
- Develop your knowledge in the IT, as you have done for other strategic areas. There are good magazines that can help you with this.
- Prioritize the requirements of your business, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Return On Investment (ROI), instead of the characteristics of IT solutions, avoiding decisions based on technological requirements.
- Consider the measurable benefits, including TCO and ROI, quality, productivity, and impacts on customer satisfaction.
- Avoid reinventing the wheel, try to benchmark and adopt best international practices, therefore it will cost cheaper and will yield better results.
- Focus on core business of your company, then consider outsourcing of what are common sense, or another company can do better for you.
No resources in Information Technology is so complex that it can not be explained simply and practice using the language of your business.
