What are people really saying about your big project?

‘Trash-talking’ ITs biggest projects is surprisingly common! But, what about yours?

As leaders, how we talk about our organization’s big projects is important. Yet, leaders are often not aware of the narrative around their big projects.

The narrative around many big IT projects is going unmanaged, with surprising implications. That includes ‘trash-talking’ – disparaging, taunting, or boastful comments, especially between opponents trying to intimidate each other. Given that description, you wouldn’t expect to find it in organizations, especially in how departments talk about each other.

Yet, look at how business leaders talk about IT and it’s biggest projects. For those leading digital and other IT projects, it can feel like trash-talking:

As an IT leader, how does reading what people think of IT make you feel? Does it make you angry, disappointed or frustrated? More importantly, what are the likely implications in terms of securing organizational resources and support. Also, in terms of managing your reputation as a leader or sponsor.

Trash Talk or Valid Feedback?

You may be wondering if the headlines on the previous page are accurate or fair. Well, one of our network partners points out such survey data as evidence of a trend towards ‘trash-talking’ IT and its biggest projects.

Moreover, many CIOs are left wondering: Are we really all in this together? For them, it seems unfair that organizational challenges in adopting change are being laid entirely at the door of IT. Yet, the best technology in the world will come up short if the organization struggles with adoption, faces challenges in cross-functional collaboration, or lacks the capacity to embed change. Thus, innovation and change are an all-of-organization responsibility.

Regardless, the survey headlines are a worthwhile reminder of the importance of managing the narrative around a big project. More essentially of ensuring our super projects are aligned with the goals and needs of our C-suite stakeholders. That enables them to allocate resources and it prevents them from ‘trash-talking’ or pointing the finger (ensuring that they co-own responsibility for success).

As leaders, we need to understand and manage the narrative around out biggest projects. Moreover, we must better educate and inform our non-technical colleagues, helping them to engage with the complexity of what the organization is trying to do via technology.

Q: Do you know what they are saying about your department and its biggest projects?

If you are not sure, then Pitstop Analytics is the fastest way to find out. It provides unparalleled insight into what stakeholders and colleagues are really thinking, thereby boosting not just visibility, but ownership and accountability too. 

Moreover, it does this at speed and online, without the need for more meetings or tricky conversations.

For a demo, or to find out more, contact us.