The study also revealed problems in organizing the work of employees who now work entirely remotely. They are often unfamiliar with the apps and platforms they need to be productive outside the office.
Many employees suddenly start working from home without a good internet connection, the necessary devices, and software, and often the skills and knowledge to solve simple problems. It fell to the IT department to solve this problem.
87% of technical employees recognize problems with the organization of remote work, among them:
- Fast implementation or scaling of technologies – 90%.
- Expanding the channel and network capacity for access and productive work of remote workers – 89%.
- Splash of questions in technical support from employees – 86%.
- Security, Strong Identity Verification, and Network/Enterprise Access Control – 84%.
- Protection of critical applications – 83%.
It is necessary that IT departments can cope with the increase in the load on the infrastructure.
There Is A Growing Need For “Transformation Agents.”
As the importance of digital services grows for internal employees and external clients, the significant role of IT in overcoming the current crisis must be recognized.
In particular, company and IT leaders must identify and support employees with the skills, vision, and determination to drive digital transformation and innovate in this challenging environment.
However, the study highlights that all tech professionals must perform at the highest level, and companies should probably consider adding more IT staff.
In 2018, only 9% of IT professionals could be considered “transformation agents.” But the consensus was that for a company to remain competitive, 45% of its technical people must become “transformation agents” within ten years.
Now competitive organizations need 46% of “transformation agents” on staff. And the business needs them immediately.
Technicians themselves believe that the increase in the number of “transformation agents” plays a decisive role in the successful recovery of businesses from the consequences of the crisis.
It used to take ten years of professional growth for an IT specialist to reach the top of his profession, but now such development has become an urgent need.
Acceleration Of Professional Growth Of IT Specialists
Despite the enormous pressure IT professionals are under, the report points to an overwhelming response from the tech community:
- 87% believe that the crisis is an opportunity to show the value of technical specialists for business.
Among the essential skills during a crisis, IT specialists name:
- Relaxed and friendly team management style, focused on cooperation – 57%.
- Decisiveness and perseverance, as well as actions based on incoming information and experience – 56%.
- Analytical and critical thinking – 47%.
- Orientation to the result – 40%.
For successful digital transformation and positive business results, IT professionals also need the right tools, support, and environment.
Here is a complete list of what IT professionals need from an organization to make their way to being a “transformation agent”:
- Clear goals and objectives – 90%.
- Availability of real-time data – 89%.
Also, IT professionals want to work with long-term strategic partners who will help them cope with the current situation and support them in their professional growth:
- 78% of respondents prefer to work with well-known, stable, and reliable vendors who are flexible and supportive during times of crisis.
- Interestingly, 66% of respondents receive software, services, support, and training from vendors for free or at deep discounts, which helps to solve technical problems during a crisis.
Also Read: Managed Services, What They Are, And How They Work
