There is a rich opportunity for organizations to optimize and bring more comprehensive digital transformation to the forefront. With a pandemic shifting how we work today and likely in the future, a new question about business comes to mind: Can change drive optimization in your business?
This new normal is well, still new to a lot of us. Some elements of the business need urgent help with technology, like the rapid shift to remote work. Supporting a workforce that is suddenly remote comes with an increased time investment. Other parts of the business might need to be put on pause in order to focus on more immediate needs. Maintaining business continuity, keeping up with the digital landscape, and meeting demands are all part of the job – and now more than ever, IT departments need to stay focused and remain confident during these changing times.
What are the most important IT skills to support business optimization?
A recent IDC report1 may help set you on a path to relevant trainings and certifications for your team to be successful in keeping pace with technology. In the report, a finding that stands out: The skills most needed in your organization depend on the stage the business is in. Is your organization working to maintain continuity? Have you already returned to growth?
One of the requirements to being a proactively supportive IT team lead is understanding the current stage of growth.
Five stages of business growth1
- Business continuity – where we were before the pandemic
- Economic slowdown – where we were shortly after the pandemic hit, and many may still be here
- Recession – experiencing layoffs and restructuring
- Return to growth –pivoting the business model or rebounding from the early economic slowdown
- The next normal – looking ahead, settled into a growth pattern that’s appropriate for the uncertainty of the times
For each stage of business growth, there are specific IT skills that seem to take precedence, with cybersecurity taking the lead.
Five most important IT skills for business growth1
Cybersecurity, IT Operations, Data analytics, Digital innovation, Software development
Whereas Artificial Intelligence (AI) was an important IT skill pre-pandemic, research shows it gives way to software development as an organization moves through the stages of business recovery. It could be that AI requires more investment in capital and time, both of which were more abundant to organizations pre-pandemic. Moving to a “necessities only” IT position can help a business move out of the trough and into growth.
Certified IT leads have a significant influence on the organization
The training and certifications your team adopt are critical to business recovery. Why? IDC research2 has discovered that certification leads to professional influence. With the skills needed to be certified, in many ways a certification provides tenure that prescribes professional respect – especially when businesses need subject matter experts during recovery mode. Having an IT expert in house gives a business agility, security, and responsiveness, all of which can greatly impact the speed of recovery and optimization.
The path to recovery and optimization
This is an important moment for IT leads. Organizational recovery from the pandemic depends on IT skills. And IT can significantly influence the organization with certifications. Choosing the right certification focus for yourself and your team helps build not just a path to recovery, but the ability to respond to whatever comes next. Ultimately, certification empowers the team, which helps your business succeed – whether in recovery or growth.
Wherever you are on the path, certifications are key to helping your organization succeed in a digital world. Explore Microsoft Learn to find the right training and certifications for your team.
Related post:
The most important factor for business success
1. Source: IDC, Road to Recovery: What Are the Most Important IT Skills Worldwide to Support Organizational Recovery?, Doc # US46713620, July 2020
2. Source: IDC, Do Certifications Increase IT Professional Impact in the Enterprise?, Doc # US46090520, February 2020
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-learn-blog/technical-certifications-could-help-drive-business-optimization/ba-p/1469344
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-learn-blog/technical-certifications-could-help-drive-business-optimization/ba-p/1469344
2020-12-17 16:00:00Z