IT group engages workforce

by Catherine Woods - Friday, 12th October 2007 -

Are your employees suspicious about new IT processes? They were at Siemens Financial Services. But not anymore, says FD Steve Mason.

That's because a year ago the company introduced a corporate transformation group (CTG).

“The process creates a far more engaged workforce in terms of how things will look in the new world and it’s less threatening. It’s less that the management is imposing these changes on people,” Mason says.

“It’s about facilitation as well – getting people to express their opinions as to what should happen and getting their ideas because, like most of these things, it’s the people who are at the coal face that know the real problems.”

The CTG comprises around eight staff members from different parts of the business. “You’ve got finance skills, you’ve got IT skills, you’ve got sales skills and project management skills,” Mason says. Group members were hired from within Siemens Financial Services and externally.

“Their role is a kind of hybrid role because IT is more than just putting in a new box. It’s fundamentally about how people use IT. It’s as much about process as it is about technology and the process is about changing people’s lives, changing what they do and the way they interact.”

Picture source

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