In “The New IT: How Technology Leaders are Enabling Business Strategy in the Digital Age,” author Jill Dyché offers a compelling roadmap for IT professionals seeking to evolve their departments from service-oriented functions to crucial partners in shaping and driving business strategy. This insightful book, aimed at CIOs, IT managers, and business leaders, goes beyond the usual rhetoric of digital transformation to offer tangible steps for IT departments to reinvent themselves in the context of an increasingly digitalized business landscape.
The book is divided into manageable sections that meticulously break down the complexities of transforming IT into a business-enabling entity. One of the most striking aspects is its focus on people and organizational culture, often overlooked facets in many technology-related publications. Dyché proposes a holistic approach that combines technological tools with human leadership skills, asserting that the so-called “New IT” is not just about implementing new systems, but about influencing organizational culture to embrace change.
Case studies are another strong point of this book, offering concrete examples from various industries where IT has successfully transcended its traditional role to become an integral part of business strategy. These real-world instances serve not just as inspiration but also as practical guides for readers looking to undertake similar transformations in their organizations.
However, the book does have a few shortcomings. For those deeply entrenched in the tech world, the focus on basic principles and generalized guidelines might seem a bit rudimentary. Also, a more thorough discussion on the challenges of implementing these changes, beyond mere acknowledgment, would have enriched the narrative.
Overall, “The New IT” is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how IT can transition from being a back-office support function to becoming a vital contributor to a company’s success in the digital age. It combines theory with practice in a way that is both accessible and profoundly instructive, offering a balanced view of what the future of IT could and should look like.
