Many of the technologies that will change how workforces manage
information already exist: an expansive global mobile network, telepresence, advancements in computing and cloud technology — the list goes on and on. The ability to operate a business in this new world of work has arrived.
However, many businesses still haven’t gotten the memo. According to a survey by Savin, while 92 percent of business leaders see the value in moving to a more digital work environment, 31 percent don’t train their employees to effectively navigate it — specifically when it comes to managing information. In fact, only 34 percent of these leaders actually feel confident in their own information-managing abilities.
And this slow-paced approach trickles down, from the C-Suite to department and team leaders to everyday workers. When businesses implement incomplete procedures and processes, or lag behind in tech adoption, the negative ramifications are easy to see — and it’s a negativity that permeates the entire organization.
So the question is simple: if an overwhelming majority of business leaders agree that this new world of work is where they want to be, why are so many businesses lagging behind in capitalizing on it? Why aren’t more companies using mobile technologies to enhance worker productivity, or building the right infrastructure to break down silos within an organization and better share and manage information?
The answers are many: costs, resistance to change and inertia. Many business leaders would rather not — or cannot — rock the boat by recommending significant changes to ways their business operates. Justifying investments in IT infrastructure, employee education, or change management can be difficult when margins are already so tight and policies seemingly set in stone. It can be challenging to explain and justify why certain employees, teams, or departments require different tools, processes, and management styles. Nonetheless, it’s an argument leaders need to keep fighting in today’s transforming world of work.
