We have mentioned the first – Roadmap to Digital Transformation – in our previous blog and the most crucial step to embarking on a Digital Transformation journey is to assemble the right team.
With the right team in place, you will be well on your way to a successful digital transformation. The team should also be able to work together efficiently, with good communication and a shared goal. In this post, we’ll outline the key positions you’ll need to create a successful digital transformation team and share tips on how to find qualified candidates.
So read on for all you need to know about building a world-class digital transformation squad!
Table of Contents
Key Digital Transformation Roles for 2023
The Visionary Team
The role of the visionary in the digital transformation team is to lay the path for the project team and to keep an eye on the bigger picture. The visionary is usually a sponsor with a budget, influence, and respect for who is hired/appointed as the owner and executive sponsor of digital transformation.
As the individual responsible for setting the vision and strategy for the project, they play a vital role in ensuring that all stakeholders understand the goals and impact of the change. They also negotiate with other stakeholders for financial budgets and prioritize the right priorities for the digital transformation initiative. Without an effective executive sponsor, it would be difficult for a successful digital transformation. Therefore, businesses must carefully consider who they appoint to this role, as it could make or break their digital transformation journey.
The Plan Team
All too often, digital transformation projects fall short of their goals because they lack the necessary support from senior management. In order to ensure that a project has the best chance of success, it is essential that the planner team be given full empowerment from the top. This means having the authority to make decisions and take action without having to go through endless layers of bureaucracy. It also requires having access to senior sponsors who can provide guidance and support. With their help, the planning team can navigate the complex process of digital transformation with agility and confidence, ultimately delivering successful results.
The planner usually includes Industry specialists, Marketers, and Project Managers
Marketers: A successful digital transformation team initiative requires more than just technical expertise. It also demands a deep understanding of the company’s customers and how they will be affected by the changes. That’s where marketers come in. By understanding the business goals of the project, the impact of the technology, and the most effective ways to market it all to employees, customers, and/or business partners, marketers can play a vital role in ensuring the success of a digital transformation initiative. By engaging customers and making them excited about the changes, marketers can help to ensure that the transformation is successful and that customers continue to want to do business with the company.
Project Managers: The digital planner team is responsible for all transformation and transition activities within the company. This includes program and project reporting, health checkups of strategic IT initiatives, resource utilization, financial budgeting, and escalations. The team works on an agile framework, which allows for rapid development and deployment of new projects. The team is also responsible for keeping existing IT projects on track, ensuring that they are staffed properly, on schedule, and on budget. In addition, the digital speed team investigates any red flags that may indicate a problem with a project and take corrective action to ensure that the project stays on track.
The Analyst Team
A business analyst team is responsible for a wide range of activities, all aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. In the context of a digital transformation project, analysts will map out the current process flows, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure that the future vision isn’t anchored by old ways of working. They will also help to demonstrate the ROI of the project, helping to retain support, budget, and buy-in for the transformation journey.
Ideally, a digital transformation team of 2-3 analysts is the optimum size depending on the size of the enterprise. This team works with other internal teams such as product management, marketing, and engineering to develop a product/market fit and Go-To-Market strategy. Further, they also work with customers and prospects to ensure that what is being built is valued in the market and meets their needs.
Industry specialists: These analysts use a variety of methods to understand the current state of affairs and identify major trends. This includes interviews with leaders, process checks, market analysis, and competition analysis. The analysts also establish themselves as experts in their field and participate in thought leadership externally to build credibility for the company. They also interact with startups and investors as a part of their business development efforts. With their deep knowledge and insights, these specialists can help companies make strategic decisions about their future.
The Compliance Specialist: The Compliance Specialist is responsible for ensuring that your company’s digital Touch Points are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations, and for providing guidance on internal policies and procedures related to data security and privacy. The Compliance Specialist also monitors compliance risk behaviors and provides a vision of digital ethics related to compliance. By working with the Compliance Specialist, you can be sure that your company is doing everything possible to minimize the risks associated with digital technology.
The Architect Team
An architect in the digital transformation team is a holistic thinker and technical expert who is entrusted with the task of working with analysts to understand business problems and design technology solutions. Architects play a vital role in these projects, as they are responsible for designing the technology solutions that will enable the business to achieve its goals. In order to be successful, architects must be able to think holistically and understand how the various components of a project fit together. They must also be experts in their field and be able to work with analysts to identify business problems and design appropriate solutions.
Technologists: Any business that wants to stay ahead of the curve understands the importance of investing in new technology. A technologist is someone who understands both the capabilities and limitations of various technologies and can help guide your company towards products that will meet its needs. In addition, a good technologist will also have a roadmap for how different technologies will evolve over time. This ensures that your company doesn’t invest in a technology that will quickly become outdated. As you can see, selecting the right technologist is crucial to ensuring the success of your company’s digital transformation.
The solution delivery architect: Their value lies in their ability to connect business needs to technology architecture, strategy, and resources.
For example, a solution delivery architect might be responsible for designing a customer management system for a company that wants to improve its customer service. In this role, the architect would work with stakeholders from across the company to understand the business goals for the project and then create a technical solution that meets those goals. The architect would also be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the solution. Solution delivery architects play a vital role in helping companies successfully navigate digital transformation initiatives.
The Security & Risk Advisors Team
Any organization undergoing digital transformation is bound to have concerns about cybersecurity. After all, the process of digitizing business operations can create new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit. This is why it is essential to have a Security & Risk Advisor on your team.
This person will work with you to identify potential risks and put in place policies and procedures to mitigate them. They will also be responsible for overseeing the response in the event of a cyber attack. Given the potentially severe consequences of such an attack, this is a vital role that should not be overlooked. By ensuring that your organization is prepared for the worst, you can minimize the risk of serious damage to your brand and reputation.
Organization Development (HR)
HR will play an irreplaceable role in this process by acting as a catalyst for collaborative discussions and decision-making. They will need to encourage positive organizational change and help everyone involved feel comfortable with the new system. By working together, leaders from all different areas of the organization will be able to create a digital transformation that meets the needs of everyone involved.
How to Build the Success Digital Transformation Team
Create a suggestion box
Employee suggestions are a crucial part of any transformation team, as they bring a level of creativity and expertise that can be hard to come by otherwise. Having a designated place for employee suggestions – whether it’s a physical suggestion box or a virtual space – can help to ensure that all voices are heard and that the best ideas are given due consideration. More sophisticated approaches, such as holding innovation days, can also be beneficial in sparking new ideas and generating excitement about the transformation process. Ultimately, no matter what form it takes, incorporating employee suggestions is essential for ensuring a successful transformation.
Identify candidates
Suggestion boxes and technology innovation days can be great ways to identify good candidates. However, you may also want to consult with the advisory board, business unit leaders, or evangelists. They may have insights that you didn’t consider. It’s also imperative to know what’s involved with the project at hand. Is it a customer journey initiative using machine learning? If so, then select people who work in the contact center and developers working on the AI platform. By taking all of these factors into consideration, you’ll be able to select the best people for the job.
Level-set expectations
When embarking on a digital transformation project, it is crucial to set expectations with your team members from the outset. This is especially important if their involvement in the project is not part of their full-time job responsibilities.
Be clear about the time commitment, meeting schedule, and specific tasks that are expected of them. You should also let them know if there is any additional compensation for their participation. It’s important to emphasize that being involved in such a high-profile project can be very beneficial for their career, providing great experience and exposure that can lead to future promotional opportunities.
Get sign-off from supervisors
There are a few different ways to approach this. Some people prefer to get the supervisor’s sign-off before even approaching the candidate, while others prefer to do it after the candidate has been identified. Either way, it’s important to make sure that you have a good relationship with your supervisor and that you pitch the project in a way that they will be enthusiastic about.
If you can approach the candidate together with the supervisor, that can be a great way to get them on board. Having the supervisor’s support from the beginning will show the candidate that this is a project worth signing on to. And getting everyone on board from the start will help ensure that the project is a success.
In conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of important roles to fill when building your digital transformation team. If you’re not sure where to start or need help finding the right candidates, contact us. We have experts who can help you with any types of digital transformation projects. With the right team in place, you’ll be well on your way to achieving success in the digital age. Our experts and your success are just one message away from you.
