2 steps forward, 1 back or 1 steps forward, 2 back?

In order to make real progress with the use of technology it often seems you have to take some backward steps before moving forward. But when we take those backward steps, do we ever really recover?

Here is an example, an org is about 4 years old, they come up with a great idea to revamp their website and include an awesome platform that transforms their audience into a worldwide collaboration and opens new doors. But in the 2 years it took for all parts to complete the site:

• their infrastructure and desktops which were donated equipment to begin with, are now 8 years old and are barely operating
  
• fiscal management software and data is non-existent
• operating system on the server hosting the site hasnt been patched
• credit card #s of donors are not secured

So now this org, with a trail blazing site, is faced with taking large steps backward. But with no funds, expertise or maybe even awareness at what danger they have exposed themselves, all their donors and others to. All this work could go up in a second when the server crashes with no tested backup to restore from or an unnoticed embezzlement.

Or a larger org that decides to move to a new software to meet changing business needs only to find out staff have no computer skills, infrastructure wont support it, desktops cant handle it, etc. So they go ahead with it anyway and begin to fix all the areas they neglected for years, because they just didnt think it was important enough. So the software quickly gets the blame for all the bad things that begin happening like staff quiting, computers crashing, poor IT support, network outages, etc. But in all reality, it was just poor management and funding of the core technology. For the next unforeseeable future though IT has a black eye or two.

Does IT ever really recover from these situations? How do we have direct conversations with the leadership to impress upon them that we have to go back and fix the basics before taking the continual steps forward. Or do we just like taking one step forward and then two back?

What execs say about tech and what they mean...

Lets play a little game of interpret exec speak. Below is a possible (not actual) quote from an exec.

"Technology isnt in our strategic plan, it isnt our mission after all to have technology. But technology is implied or needed in many areas, just not listed."

In my random head this means... We only use technology because we have to. It has no real value beyond a simple tool to meet our needs. Technology is a necessary evil.

"IT reports to the CFO because of the direct tie to tracking finances, they have the most need\experience and because of budget demands."

In my random head this means... IT is a cost center that has to be managed carefully or it will bleed us dry. They have no place at the leadership table or meddling in how we work, they just track the money and stuff.

"Of course technology is important to our organization, we use it everyday. Thats why I put so and so in charge of IT."

In my random head this means... That IT team better keep my toys running, I cant live without my blackberry. Technology is important, but I better not have to spend time thinking about it or planning for it. IT is someone else's problem to manage, I just expect it to work when I need it.

"My staff shouldn't spend so much time at their computers, they have work to do."

In my random head this means... All this technology really wastes our time and just makes our work harder. Cant we just hire someone to do that extra work?

OK, now that I have started to make some people a little mad, laugh or happy, I will give my caveats. This is not true of all execs, nor it is a direct implication to the execs that I work for. I have just heard thoughts similar to these and had to chuckle. I may sound a bit cynical about leadership, sorry about that. This is by no means true of all leadership\execs, many have really great visions and strategy for technology. I have a great respect for anyone willing to take on the role of CEO, there is so much to do, consider and manage. It is not a job that I would stand up and take. I just wish more of them would open up to the help that IT can offer beyond keeping the stuff working.

I now I usually on post on Mondays, but just couldnt wait to get this one out there.