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The larger your organization, the more ideas IT typically needs to deliver in the form of new projects. The issue is exacerbated if your company has multiple business units or operating companies. Maybe you’ve experienced it first hand but often the leaders of different divisions,business units or operating companies don’t know what the other division of the company have as priorities for the IT team to work on. As a result, they have the false perception that the priorities that they’ve articulated are the ultimate priorities for IT. Or what if the top five projects from one division are all less beneficial to the enterprise than five from another division? Depending on how long you’ve worked in IT you may recall a time not so long agowhen the majority of projects pursued by the other divisions of the company did not include IT development or components.

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Business information systems

Now the reverse is true. And the reason is that IT is an essential ingredient for innovation in most business disciplines today, and customers are increasingly technologically savvy, even if they do not have traditional IT backgrounds. This is an opportunity for IT, but too often IT does not have the knowledge of the other divisions, business units or operating companies to be invited to the strategy setting table where demand is generated and shaped. This needs to change. We‘d like to suggest that you contemplate introducing a new role called the Business Information Officer, or BIO.

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Information technology in business

For larger organizations these would be members of the IT team who are embedded in a single division, business unit or operating company of the enterprise. Within mid-size companies a single BIO might align with multiple divisions of the company. The profile of the BIO should include wearing multiple hats, as the BIO needs to possess a chameleon-like ability to think as a technologist, but also to represent and think in the terms and with the strategy and success metrics of other divisions of the company. An ability to network inside and outside of the company, since this needs to be a position that draws insights from across the enterprise and beyond, but also can influence the discussions happening within the company.

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Duties of information officer

A focus on speed-to-market, as this is a key performance indicator for the BIO. Your BIO should be at the strategy setting meetings happening within division or divisions that they’re aligned with, and should help provide insights that will allow the division to reach its objectives more readily. Advocacy in both directions, as the BIO needs to represent the interests of the division or divisions he or she is aligned to back to IT, but also act as an advocate on behalf of IT when dealing with the divisions. Empathy and ability to listen, as these leaders need to have deep discussions with leaders in IT and in divisions to understand how the relationship can improve,as well as understand when a need or opportunity that is being articulated could be addressedby an IT solution of some sort.

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A “bias” towards reusing technology wherever possible. As you may have experienced, many divisional, business unit or operating company leaders tend to think that each of their IT needs are unique, when in reality they rarely are. The BIO role should help your IT team understandwhere there are new needs in one part of the company that can be addressed with a solutionthat other parts of the company are already using. So how should you identify these new leaders. Here are some thoughts. First, identify particularly business savvy technologists on your team, especially those who are your best performers, who might be interested in a new strategic assignment like this entails.

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Information system in business

Second, identify technologically centric members of other divisions who can join your team in this way as they already have the depth of knowledge in the division that they would then align back to. Third, look for people who have great internal networks and are especially good at influencing other colleagues. Lastly, find people who are autodidacts and are willing to do the homework necessary to remain aware of progress and innovation happening both in IT and in the discipline that is the domain of the division or divisions that they’re aligned to.

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There are many well-known companies that have employed BIOs, such as Best Buy, Capital One, Kaiser Permanente, New York Life, PNC, SAP, Siemes and Petco. The list goes on and on. Many others have done the same and the value has come in variety of different ways. For instance, IT has a firmer grasp, earlier for the demand of its resources and can reuse solutions more readily. IT can also identify situations where conflicting solutions are being chosen, and more readily reconcile this, and ensure that IT is positioned to add the most value possible.

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Zorays Khalid

Author Zorays Khalid

LinkedIn Goodwill Ambassador | Renewable Energy Guru | Graphic Scientist | Co-founder at Solar Company in Pakistan | Merchant at Desi Truck Art Shop |

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