Uncertainty might be a problem in IT – but only for those who are unprepared

 In a recent article, Daniel Burrus talked about how certainty would drive growth in an uncertain world. He emphasized the existence of known cycles which includes business, weather, time of the year, biology, etc. Those cycles represent a relevant set of variations that must be considered by IT in support of the business. And they are already taken care. But the concern is how technology trends and their rapid pace of evolution are making what is uncertain even more risky for IT at many companies.

The cycles of change grow shorter. And from one cycle to another, we can see entire businesses going away as a new technology completely replaces an old one. Some changes are permanent – you can´t go back, like a car’s electronic fuel injection system or turbines in airplanes. Can you imagine brand new airplanes using state-of-the-art.. helixes? These changes can even make an entire industry disappear. This happens not because of the changing technology, but because the company was unable to transform their business and follow the new trends.

In IT, change is the only constant. Not just because technology evolves, but because business is dynamic. Requirements are changing all the time in order to follow new market conditions and customer needs. IT has been experiencing a new shift, where clients are now at the heart of some businesses – interacting and shaping new products. Even when future trends are clear, some companies are reluctant to adapt their IT systems and infrastructure.

Agility is key, and it will be even more important going forward. While current cycles may not change, new ones will emerge, driven by social media and new user habits and behaviours from generations Y and Z. New devices will be wearable and will be part of everyone’s life – and most likely part of your business.

When and how is this going to happen? It’s already started but many people think it only applies to early adopters and virtual businesses. As Burrus mentioned, you can anticipate and flourish or entrench and die. His strategy for dealing with the future is like  the old sign by the railroad track:   Stop, Look, and Listen. You should do the same for your organization:

• Stop responding frantically to changes and set aside some time to think ahead; trying to anticipate the future.
• Look at the problem you might have now, the ones you might have in the future and how your organization would be impacted. Be prepared to face those challenges.
• Listen to the clues that might be outside your range of vision. Anticipating problems can bring you carefully considered alternatives, not last minutes attempts. 

And how can IT respond to all this? New trends bring so many possibilities, but one path is clear: the new style of IT. It can prepare IT to respond to challenges you are anticipating. Most important, it will help you to mitigate the risk associated with unexpected situations that must be addressed quickly.

Technology has been playing a key role for some new products, as many new ways to interact with customers are being created. Mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) are not only trends, but good examples where IT will be challenged to enable companies to invest in innovative solutions (more on that in a future blog).

The future is already happening and its impact on your business needs to be assessed every day.  The impact will be different according to how the market responds to new technologies. Take the time to think about what is going to happen in at least the next three years. The new style of IT can best prepare your business for a successful future – it’s your call.