IT Resource Center The Changing IT Landscape

Career Success Dictates Aligning Yourself to ROI Initiatives

January 25, 2002

In last weeks article, published Jan 18, 2002, "Be prepared to Objectively Evaluate and Communicate Your Productivity," we discussed the importance to IT professionals of being aware of their company's cost cutting initiatives and communicating your awareness of such to management. There were several comments from our readers with similar themes. Your questions were- How do I, as an IT professional, communicate my alignment with and support of my company's cost cutting initiatives?

Identify those employees reporting to your boss and your boss's peers who are directly tied to the cost cutting initiatives. This part should be easy. No company keeps secret their cost cutting and stream lining initiatives and those responsible for implementing the program. Follow the organizational structure from the known contributors and map that to projects they are associated with.

Keep you eyes open and ear to the ground. When in meetings pay particular attention to those IT professionals who address cost saving issues and how they do it. Approach them after the meeting and brainstorm with them on how you might contribute in this regard.

Ask questions of your boss which show you are knowledgeable of the cost savings issues. The question might be: "Jim, I've noted that there has been an overall cutback in the IT budgets. I'm sure you have your challenges meeting the IT department goals with less resources. My research indicates our project funding is best protected by demonstrating the direct connection to Return on Investment (ROI). Is there anything I can do within my current project to assure the connection to ROI?"

One obvious and often overlooked place to find key cost saving strategic initiatives is in company reports such as the annual report. Read your company's annual report, analyst reports and the like. Companies love to tell shareholders as much as they can about cost savings initiatives and how they are going to go about achieving them. Try it. You will be surprised how much overall knowledge of your company you will gain, especially in the initiatives involving direct ROI. Formulate your questions and talking points while demonstrating the knowledge gained.

Keep in mind that optimization of current IT systems is where companies look to streamline their processes to improve cost efficiencies. Optimization translates directly into ROI. Current and future employers will always look favorable on those who can demonstrate their contribution to bottom line results.

Bottom Line: Don't look for the latest and greatest technology. Look for the simplest way to enhance productivity, ROI will be recognized and you will become known as one that is aligned with company cost saving initiatives.