IT business partnership

Organizing some thoughts I had put down while waiting for conversions to run on the weekend a large systems project went live, on original budget and original schedule.

In 25 years of working with great companies across a variety of industries, I see IT leaders engaging with business leadership to shape project commitments in three ways:

1. Some answer “Yes,” to everything, work heroic hours and under-deliver
2. Some just say “No”
3. The best engage in a discussion starting with “Yes, and…”

Only the third type of leader has a great relationship with their business partners. There are many other prerequisites for a great IT / business partnership, such as the right organizational design, great people, great planning, and great project management. But it all starts with how you engage your business partners. (more…)