The big ‘c’ – change. How to embrace the future

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 Change – it divides opinion. Some people are scared of it whist some people love it but the common feeling which unites both side of the coin is the feeling of uncertainty. It’s only natural – if we could all guess what is to come then we’d all be richer and certainly more bored.

Change is nothing new in organisations – it’s a topic CIOs and CEOs can surely associate with. Change in IT is vital in keeping an organisation competitive with its peers. And what is at the forefront of most of this change – a good strategy.

Microsoft have recently unveiled a new strategy – reimagining the business and focussing on certain priorities. Launched by CEO Steve Balmer in a recent internal email to staff, the new strategy is about: “Going forward, our strategy will focus on creating a family of devices and services for individuals and businesses that empower people around the globe at home, at work and on the go, for the activities they value most.”

Certainly change (or Business Reimagined) is something Microsoft has embraced for many years – it is part of the organisation’s DNA. Revising the strategy is a vital part of continual change within the organisation.

Microsoft’s Chief Envisioning Officer, Dave Coplin, is a big advocate for Business Reimagined – he has even written a book about it – you can find it here.

One particular aspect of change is flexible working. It’s the ability to work anywhere, anytime with access to all your normal desktop applications and internet services whether you are at work or at working from home. Microsoft has been the key supporter of the Anywhere Working campaign for some time now. The Anywhere Working campaign has been developed to help organisations develop their own flexible working strategy. This is one of the biggest aspects of change facing IT decision-makers today.

The other is Enterprise social networks – how staff communicate with each other and with external networks. It’s a hugely emotive topic and one which almost goes hand in hand with flexible working. The plain reason is that more and more employees are expecting their work devices to be as easy to use anywhere as the ones they use at home and to be able to connect with anyone, using social media, as possible.

The Microsoft Enterprise Team have compiled some great tools and guides for businesses either starting their journey of IT change or even far into it. You can find them on the Enterprise website under the following topics:

  • Consumerisation of IT - As consumer technology spills over into professional lives, the line between the personal and professional is blurring.
  • Mobility- Driven by an explosion in new device types and ubiquitous connectivity, mobility is redefining how people use technology.
  • Enterprise Social - Enabling collaboration and communication using social tools can help businesses be more competitive.
  • Cloud Computing - Mobile, social, big data, the cloud are all trends impacting how businesses engage
  • Platform for Business Evolution - Your business applications are at the heart of effectively planning, managing and delivering your business.
  • Big Data and BI - Big data. More tech buzz or a tool to push your company forward?
  • Innovation - Staying competitive in today’s fast-paced, dynamic world means that organisations must foster a culture of innovation from within.
  • Optimising Costs - Optimising costs is a holistic approach to technology that spans your IT and business.

 

If you have a Twitter account, you can also keep up to date with these topics and more information about Microsoft in Enterprise via out Twitter feed: @microsoftENTuk