{"id":10338,"date":"2016-06-21T10:59:05","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T15:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/?p=10338"},"modified":"2022-11-22T16:07:20","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T22:07:20","slug":"5-ways-cios-and-it-leaders-can-do-more-with-less","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/5-ways-cios-and-it-leaders-can-do-more-with-less\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways CIOs and IT leaders can do more with less"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Education\"Summary: CIOs and IT leaders face a daunting task. Gone are the days of simply supporting the business. These days, the expectations placed on the IT department are at an all time-high. CEOs and business executives now demand more business value from the IT department. But, most IT departments are already overworked and understaffed. How can the modern IT department meet these changing expectations using their current resources?<\/em><\/span>
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The modern IT department is under more pressure than ever before. They must move quickly. They must shift from a back-office role into a technology driver. They must become a true business partner.<\/p>\n

The problem: Most IT departments are already overworked and understaffed. They\u2019d love to move quickly, but they\u2019re constantly putting out fires. They\u2019d love to become a technology driver, but maintaining existing technology and supporting the business keeps them busy already. <\/p>\n

The question: How can your IT department become more productive using your current resources and skills? How can they do more with less? <\/p>\n

Now, before we get into the different ways to accomplish this goal, let\u2019s clarify the concept. For many, doing \u201cmore with less\u201d holds bad connotations. It means cutbacks and extra hours. It means decreasing quality. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s not how I define \u201cdoing more with less\u201d, and that\u2019s not the point of this article. To me, doing more with less is not about making employees work weekends over mandatory overtime. It\u2019s not about overworking your current staff until they burn out. It\u2019s not about cutting corners that impact the quality of your products or services.<\/p>\n

Rather, doing more with less is about taking steps to work more efficiently. It\u2019s about getting more value out of your current resources, without sacrificing quality. It\u2019s about becoming a far more productive team.<\/p>\n

So, how can you do more with less? Here are 5 ways:<\/p>\n

1. Eliminate the clutter<\/h3>\n
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It happens in every business. Over time, certain tasks become a habit. Maybe they were important at one time, but now employees just do them because \u201cthat\u2019s what we\u2019ve always done.\u201d <\/p>\n

If you want to do more with less, you must first identify these areas. As explained in this article<\/span> it starts with asking the right question:<\/p>\n

\n\u201cOver time, we tend to layer “things” on top of each other, such as adding steps to an existing process or increasing the number of layers in the organizational structure. Even when we are required to tighten our belts, the question usually is “How can we cut back on what we have?” instead of starting with a clean slate and asking, “How can we provide value to our customers\/clients most effectively?”<\/em>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How can you eliminate the clutter? Take an honest look at your current processes. Ask yourself a couple of questions about each one:<\/p>\n