Leading in a Virtual Environment

Leading in a Virtual Environment - Presentation Transcript

Leading IT in a Virtual Workforce
Mark Greenlaw, CIO
Cognizant

Cognizant Profile
Global IT Services Company
Founded in 1994 as D&B Spin-off
$3.27 B Revenues for 2009
570+ Customers
Fastest Growing in Industry (Source: BusinessWeek)
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© 2008, Cognizant Technology Solutions. Not for Reproduction

78,000+ Employees
Headquartered in New Jersey, with Global Operations
Member of S&P 500, Fortune 1000

Client-Focused Global Delivery Network
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© 2009, Cognizant Technology Solutions. Confidential

IT @ Cognizant: Technology & Transformation Services
Provides business applications, technology infrastructure, and process improvement services to Cognizant business functions and associates.
Mission is to enable scalable global business processes and technology platforms within Cognizant.
950+ global team members organized into 3 groups:
Enterprise Application Services – provides global application development & maintenance services
Network & Systems Services – provides global data center, network, computing, messaging, and desktop services
Office of the CIO – provides overall IT management: strategy, architecture, relationship management, process improvement, organization change management, and Project and Portfolio Management.
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Technology & Transformation Services TeamGlobal Footprint
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Toronto
London
Amsterdam
Frankfurt
Zurich
Shanghai
Singapore
Teaneck, NJ
Bridgewater, NJ Phoenix, AZ
Bentonville, AK
Chicago, IL
Schenectady, NY
Raleigh, NC
Reston, VA
Charlotte, NC
Maynard, MA
Holliston, MA
Wayland, MA
Chennai
Pune
Bangalore
Kolkata
Hyderabad
Coimbatore
Kochi
Mumbai
Gurgaon
Buenos Aires

A Few of our Global Facilities …
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Chennai, India
Pune, India
Shanghai, China
Pune Data Center

…and Office of the CIO
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Office of the CIO, Wayland, MA

Topics
Cognizant’s view on the future of work
Leading virtual IT teams
Enabling other virtual leaders
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Cognizant Thesis
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The confluence of
Globalization,
Demographics, and
Technology
are changing the fundamental nature of organization and work itself

Globalization: Population changes by 2050
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5222
58%
729
632
3680
392
305
1803
768
796
520

Globalization: The Invisible Hand
Not unlike the invisible hand of a “market” economy directing resources to the most optimal use
Production of goods and services no longer recognizing political boundaries
Corporate DNA is task-based, not geography-based
Increased mobility, the Internet, and low-cost telecommunications are fueling this trend
Well-codified processes are broken into sub-components, and then delivered wherever there is:
Highest quality
Greatest efficiency
Optimal talent
Ignoring or fighting today’s Invisible Hand is a losing game
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Demographics: The Millennials
1/3 of the world’s population, 1/4 of the US population
The biggest generation in the history of the world, at a time of the greatest change in history
Born between 1977 and 1994
15 to 32 years old today
Becoming management in the next decade
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How are Millennials important and different?
John Della Volpe, Harvard University
“Millennials are…
digital natives,
fierce multi-taskers
who crave collaboration,
travel in packs,
and don’t mind status.”

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Technology: The Coming Cloud

Cloud is not just about computing
Processes, systems, and portions of businesses move “into the cloud” and become more virtual
“Anywhere IT” will enable the user to work from any location on any device, enabled by
Cloud computing
Application mobility
Social media
Source: Yankee Group , February 2009
All of these factors continue to change the nature of work and create a more virtual workforce
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Impacts
Different Organizational Designs
Different IT and Business Systems
Democratized Innovation
New Leadership Models
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Leading Virtual IT Teams
Image by Avatrian, from Flickr, under a Creative Commons license.

It’s hard to separate the issues
Virtual IT teams are:
Often global
Typically multicultural
Usually multigenerational
Often operate in different time zones
Sometimes cross organizational boundaries
Physical distance is just one factor affecting the performance of virtual teams – IT Leaders must deal with all of them at once.
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Recommended Reading
Core Competencies
Create Context
Cultivate Community
Co-activate New Leaders
Leadership Tools
Techno-dexterity
Glocalization
Traverse Boundaries
Authenticity & Transparency
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Embrace Workforce Virtualization
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Be Sensitive to the Small Things
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In a virtual world, sports analogies, buzzwords, etc., may get lost in translation – be aware of culture and context

Find Your Usha (Coach)
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Sensitive to cultural differences
Skilled in managing across global borders
Able to advise you on the mood and vibe of virtual teams

Be Present and Mindful
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Video vs. audio conferencing requires that we be fully present – not multitasking
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.”
“When you speak with 100% of your being, your speech becomes a mantra.”
- ThichNhatHanh, Zen Buddhist Monk

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Enabling other Virtual Leaders
Image by DaneelAriantho, from Flickr, under a Creative Commons license.

Understanding Virtual Teams
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Enable Techno-Dexterity
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Audio Conferencing
Phone
Email
Instant Messaging
Web
Conferencing
Telepresence & HD Video
Collaboration Spaces
Blogs, Wikis (CH1Blogs)
Streamed Media (Ctube)
Collaborative Work Environments (C2.0)
Social Networking Tools

Techno-Dexterity Example
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Techno-Dexterity Example
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Strong Ties, Weak Ties, and Innovation
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None
Potential
Weak
Strong ties
Source: Andrew McAfee, MIT

Strong Ties, Weak Ties, and Innovation
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None
Potential
Who Wins - Compliance and Security or Innovation?
Weak
Strong ties
Source: Andrew McAfee, MIT

Summary
Continued workforce virtualization is an unstoppable trend
Embrace the trend and sharpen your virtual leadership techniques
Enable your colleagues to become more effective virtual leaders
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Recommended Reading
A Whole New Mind, by Daniel H. Pink
Cultures and Organizations, Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and its Importance for Survival, by GeertHofstede
Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organization's Toughest Challenges, by Andy McAfee
Grown up Digital, by Don Tapscott
Leading the Virtual Workforce, by Karen SobelLojeski
Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
You Are Here, by ThichNhatHanh
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Contact Info: mark.greenlaw@cognizant.com

Leading in a Virtual Environment

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