Dive Brief:
- The majority of businesses struggle to hire and retain skilled IT staff, fueling difficulties managing digital infrastructure, according to a June IDC report commissioned by Riverbed which surveyed over 1,400 respondents.
- Eight in 10 IT managers struggle to collect and use relevant IT data, according to the survey.
- Nearly three in five respondents agreed that senior staff spends too much of their time on tactical responsibilities. Additionally, over 60% of respondents agreed that leaders need to enable lower-skilled staff to fix issues.
Dive Insight:
In many instances, a myriad of obstacles hinder the ability of IT teams to contribute to business goals successfully.
A mix of staff and tool challenges are the likely culprits, analysts say.
“IT departments are often stretched thin, especially in the current environment where it's hard to onboard and retain in-house talent,” Peter Tsai, head of technology insights at Spiceworks Ziff Davis, said. “As a result, many organizations don't have the resources to tackle more advanced projects.”
For teams with skilled talent, using inefficient tools leads to less job satisfaction and retention problems, according to Mark Leary, research director of network analytics and automation at IDC and author of the research report.
Unsatisfied employees might search for opportunities with higher impact projects and the option to grow internally at other organizations.
Companies that buy lots of tools but don’t use them efficiently and effectively create even more confusion for IT teams, Leary said.
A Gartner survey found that over half of IT leaders regretted their purchase decisions. More often than not, dissatisfaction with tech purchases is a result of the buyer’s approach.
While businesses are turning to technology amid market uncertainty, focusing on strategic investments and breaking down siloed data, many analysts have called for a more unified approach in tech departments to mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency.
Detailing who has tool access and why can smooth operation hurdles. For example, security staff may find value in accessing some of the information in a network analytics solution, Leary said. But the security team does not need the same amount of data as network operators or engineers.
If an organization uses customized or role-based dashboards, an IT organization can present data that's valuable to the individual, he said. Building a data-sharing culture can help unify teams and break down silos.
“That leads to more productivity, and subsequently, more satisfaction, because they're enjoying their work, they're learning more,” said Leary. “A networking person working with security persons is naturally going to develop some security expertise, that's expanding their knowledge base and their career opportunities.
