Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Is technology the step child in older orgs?

Look at orgs that are over 100 years old, and technology is 10-15 years old. So for 90+ years the org is doing great, growing and so on, then suddenly these silly computer things come along, everyone (even computer companies) say their is a limited market. Then networks, internet, email and more starts coming, please make it stop.

So these large orgs, where they have only ever needed a CFO and COO, are now looking at CIOs. But will that CIO ever be a part of the family as much as the others anytime in the near future?

You can argue this point all you want, but step-children are different than birth children, hence the name difference. I am not saying either is better or worse, just different. Many step families are healthier and more functional than nuclear families, but by definition are different.

So to continue the analogy, if technology has been forced into an older org by the tech staff or even worse by outside parties, then it may by similar definition, is that a step child, that will always be a little different? Does it make a difference if the technology was brought in by the CFO\COO team and gradually built, accepted and created?

I often feel like people in the older orgs may discount technology as just the latest fad that will wear off. They see the importance and will say that, but still treat it differently than the ideas, tools and strategies that were used when the organization was founded. You hear something like, we were founded and have been very successful because of the way we work and we didnt need computers then.

Anyway, not sure I even came close to making sense in my incoherent rambling and you may be dumber for having read this. But I hope someone is able to translate this into a rational thought, if not, there is always next week.

NOTE: please dont argue about how old technology is, many orgs have only been using it heavily for 10 years. Yes many have been using it for over 10 years. And when I say technology, I mean the technology (networks, internet, etc) that is readily available today. Just play along and dont fight the semantics.

DISCLAIMERS: Please dont take my analogy of step families as negative toward them, that was not my intention.