Kathy Harris

One of my older presentations defined three roles that IT plays in innovation — IT can focus innovation on their internal processes, emerging technologies or business innovation.  Then, I jumped the shark a little and decided to represent these three roles on a Maslow-like hierarchy- a triangle with three layers representing the IT roles from bottom to top.  And, the Maslow analogy is this: as IT fulfills their user’s needs for processes, emerging technologies and business innovation, then IT gains increasing levels of credibility (and eventually of course, self-actualization).

Most of my audiences just didn’t get the Maslow analogy so I retired it quickly. But, I still believe the concept is a good one.  So, here goes. Try this as a way to think about credibility and innovation.  

The lowest level of the hierarchy represents IT’s internal processes. You must perform these processes exceptionally well for your business users and by doing so, you’ll gain credibility. From a Maslow perspective, this is the equivalent of providing users food, security, health and human needs. If you don’t do this well, you won’t be taken seriously farther up in the hierarchy. And specifically, the business won’t offer IT a seat at their innovation table without credibility. 

The second level of the hierarchy is IT’s management of emerging technologies. This is a natural role of IT and most organizations have a process to manage it. However, without the credibility gained through great execution in level 1, your ability to push the envelope with emerging technology or to gain support for significant investments will be limited.  So, you must innovate well to earn the credibility to push the envelope with emerging trends and technologies. 

The third and highest level of the triangle represents business innovation and specifically, IT being invited to participate with the business.  If credibility has been achieved, then IT can engage in business innovation as an equal partner – the business will want you there and will value your ideas and insight. Conversely, if you don’t have credibility, your business partners will wonder why you’re there and why you aren’t working on innovating your IT processes.

So, if you don’t have great IT processes, innovate there first — aim for agility and speed.  Next, focus on bringing the right emerging technologies to the business before pushing the envelope.  If you innovate IT first, then a seat at the business table is waiting.