“Selecting the right person for the right job is the largest part of coaching.” – Phil Crosby
Technology isn’t the only important aspect of an evolving and agile enterprise architecture program. An equally challenging aspect of supporting business operations is identifying the correct individuals or groups to influence and guide business outcomes that align with future state architecture views. Having the right personality and skillset can make all the difference to help shape and achieve business success. In an article, Jackie Fenn identifies six styles of technology innovation groups that bring unique skills required to maximize and transform business impacts.
“Technology innovation and emerging technology groups need to identify the most useful role they can adopt in advancing their organization’s innovation capabilities, from navigators that drive business transformation through technology, to pollinators that encourage innovation at the edges (Fenn, 2012)
The article focused on identifying the right style of innovation for a team or group of individuals. However, I would argue that each style already exists and is an important part of the innovation process within EA programs. Each style embodies the characteristic necessary to form a comprehensive team to accomplish business driven outcomes. Bigger question… is how do you hire and identify the right people to complete such a team or group?
The Six Styles of Technology Innovation Groups (Fenn, 2012):
- Navigator – “Determines the strategic business impact of emerging technologies, through tracking evaluation and piloting.” Focused on understanding current and future business processes to align corporate direction and priorities of business units with technology. However, they lack any authority to implement their vision.
- Scholar – “Investigates technologies ahead of business need through primary R&D.” Focused on research and develop to push technology capabilities to support new technology solutions and maintain a competitive edge through emerging technology.
- Responder – “Helps business units deploy new technologies through a tactical and pragmatic “SWAT” team approach.” Focused on testing, prototyping, piloting, and development to evaluate new/emerging technology evolution.
- Counselor – “Educates senior management on emerging technology issues and potential.” Provides education and inspiration to achieve business objectives and will often champion and recommend technologies to executive/IT leaders.
- Conductor – “Coordinates and leverage emerging technology activities performed in other parts of the organization.” Focused on aligning task through coordinate and leverage already existing teams and resources. Able to manage effectively to maximize impact of limited resources.
- Pollinator – “Encourages and mentors distributed innovation activities throughout the organization.” Focused on coaching and mentoring to encourage and facilitate across all level of the technology stack.
Attributes/characteristics:
- Navigator: Drives, Leads, Adapts, Communications,
- Scholar: Drives, Leads, Invents, problem solver, hands-on
- Responder: Drives, Responds, evaluation
- Counselor: Enables, Executives, influencers/persuasive, communication
- Conductor: Enables, Workforce, Leverages, planner, communication,
- Pollinator: Enables, Workforce, Unleashes, people-oriented skills, persuasive.
References:
Fenn, J. (2012). Six Styles of Technology Innovation Groups. Gartner. https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2277059/files/149153361/download?wrap=1