Digital, after Covid for 3 managers out of 4 epochal transformation

The digital transformation has undergone an unprecedented acceleration in the last 2 years, with a significant impact on CIO and IT managers (and consequently on the organizations they belong to): their roles, in fact, have greatly changed after the pandemic, pushing companies towards a concrete and “epochal” transformation. To shed light on these changes, in collaboration with Cionet Italia, Aruba Enterprise conducted a survey that involved almost 250 companies, with a panel composed of 96% of Decision Makers from the It area (CIO, Ict Manager and Cto) and for the remaining 4% by Decision Makers of the Innovation area and HR. The survey started from the analysis of the “digital mindset”, therefore from that mentality aimed at change and continuous learning in the digital environment: 72% of the leaders involved said that their “digital mindset” has changed – in whole or in part – following the pandemic. A symptom that the current context has changed people, making them more vulnerable but certainly more receptive and open to new things. The results of the survey also testify to this, according to which “having a Digital Mindset” for Italian CIOs means approaching digital while remaining open to news (83%) and knowing how to interpret changes (78%). Interestingly, almost 9 out of 10 executives consider themselves ready for the next digital challenges; however, 60% of them don’t think the same about their company. From this data, it emerges that IT C-levels must be spokespersons for the message of technology as an enabler of the simplification of business processes. In fact, beyond the cultural aspect, if the ItT Managers start to establish a bond of trust with the people who work on the processes, many cultural barriers will be removed. According to analysts, therefore, it is no coincidence that among the soft skills that contribute to the Digital Mindset, the most important is represented by the collaborative approach, therefore by the need to stimulate the creativity and cooperation of the team with diversity of thoughts, approaches and visions. (61%). This is followed by curiosity (56%), the courage to dare (50%) and the knowledge of technologies and tools to be approached with a critical sense (45%). Which, therefore, are the distinctive characteristics of the figure of Leader in the current context of Digital Transformation? According to the survey, proactivity and flexibility are the main qualities for 56% of respondents, they follow well-spaced communication skills (42%), the attitude to a holistic perspective, therefore to possess an overview (39%) and being visionaries (36%). Empathy ranks only fifth (33%). “By analyzing what emerged from the survey, it is clear that the model that is spreading is that of an IT sector no longer perceived as a cost but rather as a necessary investment, capable of generating value “comments Vincenzo Maletta, Head of Sales of Aruba Enterprise. In this context, observes Maletta, the role of the IOC also changes, which no longer assumes a marginal position but gradually becomes part of the strategic board of the company, interacting more and more with financial and management stakeholders. A central role, therefore, like the change it can ensure “.