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The Whole World at Work: Managers Around the Globe Describe Their IT experiences – Suggesting a new framework for Global IT Leadership Development
Abstract
The foundation of this paper is research titled: “The Whole World at Work: Managers Around the Globe Tell Us What’s Changed and What Still Needs to Change in Organizations,” conducted from late spring 2004 through early 2006. The research included 160 interviews with managers and consultants working in multinational corporations on five continents, an extensive literature review, and client interventions. We find that the subject of technology is very much on the minds of managers across the organizational value chain. Nearly 47% of “The Whole World at Work” interviewees mentioned technology when asked what has changed most in organizations during their careers, and interview content analysis indicates that a majority of manager comments about technology were mixed or negative in tone. However, when asked to envision the ideal organization of the future, less than 15% of managers made reference to technology. In contrast, more than 90% described the best organizations of the future as ones in which “people” will be at the forefront, with organizations focusing less on mechanics (technology, process and profits) and more on communicating, collaborating, and building consensus. Based on “The Whole World at Work” findings, we propose a previously unidentified global yearning for more holistic organizations and leaders. We have coined a term – E-vergence(SM) – postulating an emerging convergence of manager experiences, views and aspirations around the world. We also propose a model of leadership necessary to foster successful future organizations - The New Hybrid Leaders - multi-dimensional managers developed to exhibit “transformational,” “transnational,” and “trans-cultural” competencies (Bass, 1998; Trompenaars & Woolliams, 2003). This calls for rethinking and reformulating technology management education within a framework that will achieve comprehensive IT leadership development. New competencies are required for technology managers who aspire to influence increasingly global organizations and achieve career success.
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