Most start-ups and small businesses have the ‘giddy-up and go’ mentally as it relates to operations. The goal in the beginning: create a revenue stream. But once revenue flows become more consistent and a client base develops, the natural progression of thought focuses on scalability: how does the organization grow, become more efficient, and maintain the quality of the service. As it relates to technology, many business owners begin that journey by hiring a single IT professional—a serious step as that action is a significant overhead addition.
At some point, that IT professional becomes overwhelmed and asks for additional hires. Much of the growth of the technology team is reactionary. However, there is a tipping point in which the leadership team needs to become strategic and hire with a plan. Here are a couple considerations for 2023 IT hiring strategy.
IT Models: Centralization vs Decentralization
Traditionally, IT teams reflect a centralized model—meaning IT manages and governs all components considered IT. One fundamental shift that has happened in the last several years is a proliferation of business line applications that do not require any involvement of IT. The massive benefit from this trend is that IT is no longer a bottleneck in the process; although, the security oversight of product implementation can fall to the wayside. The key in structuring a team is to account for this multiplication of applications and ensure IT has a seat at the table in oversight but does not slow down the digestion of features that lead to massive gains in ROI.
Upskill vs Hiring Experience
More than 4 in 5 CIOs and IT leaders are reskilling workers to execute digital strategies, according to the 2023 Gartner Resilient Workforce Model of the Future Survey.
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Another dilemma many professionals face is whether to upskill existing talent or to hire experienced technologists. Many times, resources can possess technical expertise but lack industry knowledge. In the financial sector, industry knowledge can be crucial for a technology professional to be effective. Beyond industry knowledge, experienced technologists can be expensive.
If the right move for the business is to hire talent rather than develop internal talent, one criterion for an experienced hire is that they possess a formal technical degree from an accredited university. With technology changing so fast, hiring an individual with many years of experience with one tool does not necessarily yield the strongest candidates. All applications are made up of the same underlying fundamentals with different wrapping paper. Metaphorically speaking, if you are trying to maintain a car, it could be the difference between hiring a mechanic and a driver. Just because an individual has driven a car many years, it doesn’t mean they know how to take care of it.
Outsourced IT – Managed Service Provider
Another structure often implemented is a fully outsourced IT model. This solution can be a sledgehammer which swiftly hammers in many nails but can be rigid with high costs in implementation. There are many great technology partners, but issues with consistent quality can be a problem. Many times the majority of a managed service provider contract will be help desk hours—a very expensive way to receive support. Level one help desk staff typically have high attrition–a key benefit and risk to a MSP’s engagement. On one side, by outsourcing the technology, the MSP is on the hook for staffing and ensuring there is redundancy in knowledge. On the other side, the business becomes deeply dependent on the MSP, is at the mercy of their always increasing prices, and core business knowledge externally owned. An MSP engagement can be a good thing, but without proper oversight, expenses will always grow, and implementations will be molded after what helps the MSP’s ability to scale rather than tailored to the nuanced business need.
What is the best solution for my business?
There are many careful decisions that should be considered when choosing the right model for your organization. These questions are meant to provide a simple framework for the small business owner to begin the process of asking themselves, how should I build my technology team. If you would like to discuss strategic direction with a professional, schedule a free consultation with the link below.
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There is a need to protect your business and your clients in this evolving environment but also be mindful of cost. ECCO BOLD strives to address the need for strategic technology assistance for businesses that do not have access to have a full time CTO, a strategic and technical leader.
If you want to learn more and ask specific questions, book a free consultation with me. I look forward to helping guide you along your journey.
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