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Every Employee is a Digital Employee

Note: This article is updated at Every Employee is a Digital Employee.

“The questions that we must ask ourselves, and that our historians and our children will ask of us, are these: How will what we create compare with what we inherited? Will we add to our tradition or will we subtract from it? Will we enrich it or will we deplete it?”
― Leon Wieseltier

Digital transformation is all around us.

And we are all digital employees according to Gartner.

In the article, Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee, Gartner says that the IT function no longer holds a monopoly on IT.

A Greater Degree of Digital Dexterity

According to Gartner, employees are creating increasing digital dexterity from the devices and apps they use, to participating in sharing economies.

Via Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee:

"'Today's employees possess a greater degree of digital dexterity,' said Matt Cain, research vice president at Gartner. 'They operate their own wireless networks at home, attach and manage various devices, and use apps and Web services in almost every facet of their personal lives. They participate in sharing economies for transport, lodging and more.'"

Workers are Streamlining Their Work Life

More employees are using technology to simplify, streamline, and scale their work.

Via Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee:

"This results in unprecedented numbers of workers who enjoy using technology and recognize the relevance of digitalization to a wide range of business models. They also routinely apply their own technology and technological knowledge to streamline their work life."

3 Ways to Exploit Digital Dexterity

According to Gartner, there are 3 Ways the IT organization should exploit employees' digital dexterity:

  1. Implement a digital workplace strategy
  2. Embrace shadow IT
  3. Use a bimodal approach

1. Implement a Digital Workplace Strategy

While it’s happening organically, IT can also help shape the digital workplace experience.  Implement a strategy that helps workers use computing resources in a more friction free way and that play better with their pains, needs, and desired outcomes.

Via Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee:

“Making computing resources more accessible in ways that match employees' preferences will foster engagement by providing feelings of empowerment and ownership. The digital workplace strategy should therefore complement HR initiatives by addressing and improving factors such as workplace culture, autonomous decision making, work-life balance, recognition of contributions and personal growth opportunities.”

2. Embrace shadow IT

Treat shadow IT as a first class citizen.  IT should partner with the business to help the business realize it’s potential, and to help workers make the most of the available IT resources.

Via Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee:

“Rather than try to fight the tide, the IT organization should develop a framework that outlines when it is appropriate for business units and individuals to use their own technology solutions and when IT should take the lead. IT should position itself as a business partner and consultant that does not control all technology decisions in the business.”

3. Use a bimodal approach

Traditional IT is slow.   It’s heavy in governance, standards, and procedures.   It addresses risk by reducing flexibility.   Meanwhile, the world is changing fast.  Business needs to keep up.  Business needs fast IT.

So what’s the solution?

Bimodal IT.  Bimodal IT separates the fast demands of digital business from the slow/risk-averse methods of traditional IT.

Via Gartner Says Every Employee Is a Digital Employee:

“Bimodal IT separates the risk-averse and ‘slow’ methods of traditional IT from the fast-paced demands of digital business, which is underpinned by the digital workplace. This dual mode of operation is essential to satisfy the ever-increasing demands of digitally savvy business units and employees, while ensuring that critical IT infrastructure and services remain stable and uncompromised.”

Everyone has technology at their fingertips.  Every worker has the chance to re-imagine their work in a Mobile-First, Cloud-First world.

With infinite compute, infinite capacity, global reach, and real-time insights available to you, how could you evolve your job?

You can evolve your digital work life right under your feet.

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