The IT industry is constantly evolving. New technologies and trends represent a permanent challenge for IT managers who want to develop professionally.
IT has become an important competitive feature
Agility in programming has gained in importance over the years. A study by Capgemini has seen a rise of 3 points in the agility index since 2014. To meet the wishes of customers, the IT industry is moving away from acting according to fixed schedules and towards the highest possible flexibility. While IT previously held a position as an implementer in the company, the requirements today are for the independent development of innovative approaches to problem-solving. In this role change for IT, the changes to the requirements at IT management level are justified: “While IT decision-makers have hitherto only been ‘business partners’, digital change now means they must become business drivers who innovate and have corresponding multiple functions. In times of digital transformation, the IT manager is the decisive force in the battle for competitive advantages,” says Andreas Wartenberg, Managing Director of Hager Unternehmensberatung.
Companies are actively searching for digital professionals
The future is clearly in the hands of digital companies that continue to blur the classic roles of the IT professional and the ‘specialist department’. The boundary between those who have, up till now, provided the data and those who use the data is no longer so clear. “Nowadays, companies are especially looking to fill IT positions involved in the support of digitisation. From lead architects or cybersecurity managers all the way up to fully-fledged digitisation professionals (CDO, etc.),” continues Wartenberg. And that is most likely the reason why exactly these positions are highly sought after among IT leaders. Here, CIOs see the greatest potential for professional development.
Changing roles are creating new job profiles
Along with the new requirements, the necessary competencies and soft skills have also changed for IT specialists and executives. Good IT specialists/executives are capable of finding their feet quickly, on the basis of existing and newly acquired knowledge, in new subject areas and in the face of new requirements and employ a solution-oriented approach. Furthermore, they exhibit high levels of empathy and a good sense for different situations and people. Competent specialists/executives work through problems and take the necessary steps. The balancing act between business and innovation is mastered. Anyone who is looking to follow a new career path should bring precisely these skills.
