Part 1: The New Normal

February 2010

What is the new business normal? Peter Hinssen, author and Chairman of Across Group & Porthus.com, told attendees at the New York Live Exchange tonight that they have to dramatically rethink the role of IT because "digital technology is the new normal." Particularly when it comes to Gen Y users, the old world of IT has to understand that "digital technology is life" and there is "zero tolerance for digital failure." Even the term 'digital' will become obsolete. In an environment of technology consumerization, he says, CIOs are no longer the only masters of business IT.

To accommodate this new normal, CIOs need to take risks. They must transform IT to adapt to new business models, Hinssen says. IT and business executives now have a great opportunity to reshape the way IT is used in corporations. Cloud computing, for example, "is probably your biggest nightmare and biggest opportunity at the same time."

Hinssen advises a shift away from being an "implementer" of IT to dispersing IT broadly into the corporation. Procter & Gamble is a great example of this, he says. The IT community there has helped transform the business and is now highly valued.

In addition, Hinssen described four priorities that IT should focus on going forward:  1) People --the greatest asset; remove the 'Scottish clan' mentality so that you foster collaboration and thought leadership 2) Create IT value 3) Architecture can seem boring but it is the  most important thing--it's what most business people can't see and don't understand. Make it matter 4) Behavior has to change and IT can lead the way.

Are you still figuring out what the new normal is at your business or are you riding the wave?