what requirements & skills are needed for successful digital transformation projects

1. What is important for all
„Digitalization“ or „Digital Transformation“
projects?
A short explanation of requirements & skills to be successful…
by
NINO MESSAOUD

2. The key requirements and skills to
run successfully a digital transformation
project…
• Teams : Build mixed teams of IT- and business
• Processes : Don’t make the mistake to transfer
existing processes into new technologies.
Think about new & optimized processes
• People : Put the best people into the teams
and not the ones, which are “just available”.
Put people into teams which are able and
willing to question the status quo.
• Balance : Find the right balance between daily
business- and strategy. You can’t switch off
daily business.
• Courage : You need to have the courage to question
everything and especially the existing processes
• Tough : You need to be tough to explain again & again the
big picture, milestones etc. of the transformation project
• Persistence : Digital Transformation is a marathon and not
a sprint
• Flexibility : You must be flexible to find new ways in the
organization, to setup new teams and challenge all –
including yourself
• Innovation : Be innovative and don’t think in small steps.
If you have no innovative ideas, surround yourself with
people which are innovative.

3. Teams
• The days of an isolated IT, serving business are gone.
• Today, mixed teams of business- and IT do guarantee
• A better understanding & collaboration between IT and Business
• Common defined targets, roadmaps and expectations
• Quick overview what business wants and what is realistic by your
individual framework
• Best buy-in of all involved parties

4. Courage
• Courage is needed to tear down walls in heads.
Courage is needed to tear down the small
kingdoms, every organization has. And courage is
needed to face people, which only want protect
their status-quo.

5. Processes
• It makes no sense to copy existing processes into new frameworks /
technical environments. It is essential to question the current
processes and to build the very best future processes.
• “We always did it that way” is a show-stopper. What was working in
the past does not automatically work in the future.
• Try to automate as many processes as possible. This is not a big deal
and possible with nearly all technical environments.
• Optimized & automated processes shall not reduce your headcount. It
shall free your teams to focus on the real important processes &
things.

6. Balance…
• It is essential to find the right balance between your daily
business & challenges and the strategic business. One cannot
exist successfully without the other.
• The right balance shall exist in teams, budgets, time, attention
etc.

7. Toughness…
• Don’t forget… Digital Transformation is a CHANGE process of an
entire organization. The tough job is to explain again & again the
pros, the risks, the roadmap etc.
• You will be permanent in the line of fire.
• You need to be tough and resilient

8. People…
• Put the best & open-minded people into teams, not the ones,
which are “only available”
• Create mixed teams of IT- and business. This creates a common
understanding, common targets and to unify expectations
• Usually “business” tells you not to take Person x, because this
creates direct negative impact to daily business. Could be, but what
is the alternative? To take weak or unmotivated people into the
most strategic project?

9. Persistence…
• Digital Transformation is a marathon and not a sprint
• Once you’ve started, more & more ideas are coming up and will
influence the roadmap
• Develop a strategy which does not overwhelm the organization
• Make more smaller steps instead of only a few big ones
• Due to the effort, duration and workload, you need to motivate
again & again the involved parties.
• Regular smaller success stories will unify the teams for a common
target

10. Flexibility…
• You must be flexible to find new supporters, partners etc. inside-
and outside your organization
• It is essential to be flexible enough to follow on one hand your
roadmap, but to change priorities, teams etc. if needed at certain
milestones to gain best possible knowledge and support
• Use agile methods to be maximum flexible
• Be flexible enough to adjust milestones due to new experiences
and requirements

11. Innovation…
• Like not everyone is able to write e.g. scores / soundtracks, not
everyone is innovative and able to think in new ways…but I’ve
never seen an organization NOT having “hidden” people with these
skills.
• Find & take the innovative people into your teams and give them
the freedom to think new ways
• Ask additionally your customers what they would need beside your
standard products & services

12. Conclusion…
• If you re-think about the headlines of these few slides, you are
probably already one step ahead of your competitors…
• I am sure that you have the required talents in your organization. Find
& support them. If you let your business- and IT people work together
in combined teams, you’ll win a lot…at minimum you’ll receive a
unified vision.
• What do you risk or lose by given it a try ?