Blog

10Nov, 2023

Change Management in the Digitalization Era

What is Change Management in the Digitilization Era ?

In the contemporary corporate landscape, digitalization has emerged as a defining force that reshapes the very fabric of organizations and industries. The integration of digitalization is no longer a matter of choice. It has evolved into an essential strategic pivot for businesses aiming to secure and maintain their competitive advantage in an increasingly digitized world. As organizations embark on the journey of adopting digital technologies, reengineering their operational frameworks, and adjusting to a digitally-driven ecosystem, they encounter a formidable challenge: the precise navigation of change.

Digital transformation or digitilization, at its core, encompasses the strategic implementation of digital technologies and tools with the goal of optimizing and automating various aspects of business operations, from data management and analytics to customer interactions. It involves the integration of cutting-edge technologies, including data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT). All of these technologies are aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and promoting competitive agility. The overarching objective of digital transformation is to fortify an organization’s ability to swiftly adapt to market dynamics, elevate customer experiences, and establish a dominant presence in a highly competitive landscape.

Change Management is a meticulously structured methodology designed to guide individuals, teams, and entire organizations through the process of transitioning from their current state to a carefully defined future state. When employed within the context of digital transformation, change management not only emerges as a critical component but also facilitates the systematic management of both the human and technical aspects of this transformative journey.

Importance of Change Management in the Digital Transformation

Mitigating Technical Resistance to Change: Resistance to change is a natural human response, particularly when it involves adopting new technologies or altering established workflows. Change management strategies are instrumental in identifying and mitigating sources of resistance, enabling a smoother integration of digitalization.
Minimizing Technical Disruption: Digital transformation often necessitates substantial changes to technical infrastructures and operational processes. Change management serves as a safeguard, ensuring a seamless transition by minimizing technical disruptions to day-to-day operations, reducing downtime, and preserving operational continuity.
Fostering Technical Engagement: Engaged and technically proficient employees are pivotal to the success of digital transformation efforts. Change management fosters transparent communication, active involvement, and feedback loops, empowering employees to contribute to the technical aspects of the transformation process.
Aligning Technical Initiatives with Strategic Goals: Change management plays a key role in aligning digital transformation efforts with an organization’s technical and strategic objectives, ensuring that the transformation is methodical and consistent with the company’s mission and vision.

Technical Strategies to achieve Change Management

The meticulous execution of change management within digital transformation endeavors pivots on several technical strategies such as;

Technical Leadership and Sponsorship: A dedicated technical leadership team passionately champions the digital transformation endeavor. Influential technical sponsors, advocating for change and aligning it with technical objectives, significantly motivate employees and drive technical adoption.
Precise Technical Communication: Transparent and consistent communication is essential. Employees must be well-informed about the technical rationale underpinning digital transformation, its technical benefits, and its implications for their roles. Open channels for technical feedback and inquiries must be firmly established.
Technical Proficiency through Training and Education: Providing employees with specialized technical training and resources is essential for equipping them with the technical skills required to adapt to new technologies and processes. Substantial investments in technical skill development ensure a seamless technical transition.
Technical Inclusivity and Involvement: Involving employees across technical strata in the decision-making process is crucial. Their technical insights and feedback are invaluable in customizing digital transformation efforts to meet their specific technical requirements.
Validation through Technical Pilot Programs: Implementing digital transformation in phased increments or via technical pilot programs offers a prudent approach. It permits organizations to gain technical insights from initial experiences, make necessary technical refinements, and instill confidence in the process.
Technical Metrics and Performance Tracking: Defining technical key performance indicators (KPIs) serves as a compass for gauging the success of digital transformation efforts. Regular evaluation of technical progress and the application of data-driven insights guide informed technical adjustments.
Unwavering Technical Support: The purview of change management does not conclude upon the rollout of digital transformation. A robust framework for continuous technical support, in addition to mechanisms for ongoing technical feedback, is vital for addressing evolving technical requirements and challenges.

Managing change in the digitilization era, are we ready for change ?

Digital transformation serves as the guiding force that leads organizations toward a more advanced technical future. When organizations embark on their technological transformation efforts, change management becomes crucial. It’s essential for carefully navigating the complex technical landscape, addressing technical challenges, and ensuring a successful transition. Prioritizing strong technical leadership, fostering transparent technical communication, encouraging active involvement, and utilizing data to guide technical decisions, organizations can ensure that their digital transformation projects are not only technically sound but also centered around people, adaptable, and well-aligned with the ever-changing digital environment.

4Nov, 2023

Navigating Agile Project Management: Driving IT Innovation and Sustainability

In today’s fast-paced IT landscape, the ability to adapt swiftly and work efficiently is critical to success. Agile Project Management has emerged as a game-changer, fundamentally reshaping how IT projects are planned and executed.

Overview

Agile Project Management is not just a methodology; it’s a dynamic and flexible approach that not only thrives on change but also actively fosters collaboration. Placing customer satisfaction at the forefront, it actively embraces sustainability. This framework was designed to readily adapt to the ever-evolving demands of a project, while steadfastly incorporating the principles of environmental and social responsibility.

Key Agile Processes

1. Sprint Planning: Agile projects are divided into well-defined time-bound iterations known as sprints, which typically span 2 to 4 weeks. During sprint planning, the project team carefully selects a set of user stories and outlines the necessary tasks for their completion. This process ensures that the upcoming sprint’s goals are crystal clear, with an explicit focus on incorporating sustainable practices.

2. Daily Stand-Ups: Agile teams come together in daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress, identify roadblocks, and ensure that all team members are on the same page. These daily interactions provide an ideal platform to discuss the integration of sustainable practices into the project’s workflow.

3. Backlog Refinement: As a project progresses, the product backlog evolves to align with changing requirements and priorities. Agile teams routinely review and refine the backlog, always with an eye on sustainability goals.

4. Sprint Review: At the culmination of each sprint, the project team conducts a sprint review, where they showcase the completed work to stakeholders and gather valuable feedback. This transparency allows for adjustments and improvements, including those related to sustainability.

5. Retrospectives: Agile encourages a culture of continuous improvement. Retrospectives, held at the end of each sprint, enable the project team to reflect on what went well and areas where enhancements are needed. This also includes sustainable practices.

Use Cases in the IT World

1. Software Development: Agile Project Management is the preferred approach for software development. It empowers developers to respond rapidly to evolving user needs and market dynamics while also taking sustainable development principles into account to minimize environmental impact.

2. Infrastructure and Operations: Agile principles find application in IT departments to manage infrastructure and operations, which ensures system reliability and security while concurrently implementing sustainable practices to reduce energy consumption and waste.

3. Data Analytics and Big Data: Agile is a powerful tool in the data domain, aiding data scientists and analysts in adapting to shifting data requirements. The delivery of actionable insights while keeping sustainability in mind, particularly in data storage and processing.

4. Mobile App Development: In the world of mobile apps, Agile shines in facilitating rapid development, testing, and deployment. This makes it the preferred choice for industry leaders like Uber and Airbnb. Simultaneously, Agile allows for the integration of sustainable features into these apps.

5. IT Service Management: Agile isn’t confined to development alone; it’s equally beneficial in managing IT services. The ITIL framework, with its emphasis on service quality, smoothly incorporates Agile principles to ensure continuous service improvement, including sustainability in service delivery.

Benefits of Agile in IT and Sustainability

Agile Project Management offers multiple benefits in the IT world, all while championing sustainability as shown below:

Faster Time-to-Market: Agile efficiently reduces development time, enabling IT companies to release products and features more quickly. It also promotes the development of sustainable solutions that align with environmental and social responsibilities.
Enhanced Quality: The continuous testing and feedback loops integral to Agile ensure that IT solutions are not only efficient but also environmentally responsible, adhering to sustainability standards.
Adaptability: Agile empowers IT teams to swiftly pivot in response to evolving market conditions and customer demands, all while adapting their sustainability strategies to align with ever-changing environmental regulations.
Increased Collaboration: Agile cultivates cross-functional collaboration, nurturing innovation, creative problem-solving, and sustainable practices integration.
Improved Customer Satisfaction: Frequent customer feedback ensures not just meeting but consistently exceeding their needs, enhancing overall satisfaction and aligning sustainability features with their values.

In your quest to master Agile Project Management and integrate sustainability into IT, consider exploring these recommended books:

1. “Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time” by Jeff Sutherland
2. “Agile Estimating and Planning” by Mike Cohn
3. “User Story Mapping: Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product” by Jeff Patton
4. “Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” by David J. Anderson
5. “Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit” by Mary Poppendieck and Tom Poppendieck
6. “The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win” by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford
7. “Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams” by Lisa Crispin and Janet Gregory
8. “Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum” by Mike Cohn

To positive change, innovation, and a lasting impact on IT and the world at large.

3Nov, 2023

Empowering Women in IT: Progress in 3rd World Countries

In an age where technology is shaping the future, women are making substantial strides in the field of Information Technology (IT) across the globe. However, while it’s encouraging to see progress in developed nations, it’s equally inspiring to witness the remarkable advancements made by women in 3rd world countries. In this blog post, we’ll explore the significant headway women have made in IT in these regions, focusing on real-life stories of empowerment and transformation.

Bridging the Gender Gap:

To address the gender gap in IT, which is a well-known challenge worldwide, organizations and NGOs have been working relentlessly. Initiatives such as Girls Who Code, Women in Technology, and many others are providing educational opportunities, mentorship, and support to girls and women interested in IT careers.

Education and Skill Development:

Access to quality education is a fundamental driver of progress. In 3rd world countries, various programs and scholarships are helping young women gain the necessary skills to enter the IT workforce. Additionally, online courses and resources have played a pivotal role in enabling women to develop their tech skills, regardless of their geographical location.

Real-Life Success Stories:

Now, let’s take a closer look at some inspiring women who have broken barriers and achieved remarkable success in the IT field in 3rd world countries.

Gloria Mwangi (Kenya):

Gloria Mwangi, a software engineer from Kenya, defied the odds by pursuing her passion for IT. Through her dedication, she has contributed to the development of numerous applications that solve local problems, from healthcare to agriculture. Not only is Gloria an inspiration to other women, but she is also an advocate for making technology accessible to all.

Sima Singh (India):

Sima Singh, an Indian coder, has used her skills to empower women in her community. She established coding workshops for young girls in rural areas, providing them with the knowledge and tools to create a brighter future for themselves. Sima’s initiative is a shining example of how women in IT are transforming their societies.

Economic Impact:

The empowerment of women in IT has a direct impact on the economies of 3rd world countries. By breaking down gender barriers, these women are not only elevating their own lives but also contributing to the growth and development of their nations. Increased participation of women in the IT sector leads to innovation, economic stability, and reduced poverty.

Empowering the Future: A Woman in tech visionary and loving mother, breaking barriers in IT while nurturing the next generation

The progress made by women in IT in 3rd world countries is a testament to their resilience, determination, and the unwavering support of organizations and individuals committed to gender equality. As we continue to celebrate their achievements, it is important to remember that much work still remains. By supporting and encouraging women to pursue careers in IT, we can look forward to a future where the gender gap is bridged, and women are equal participants in shaping the world through technology.

26Jan, 2019

Women In Technology

Technology, is assumed to be far-fetched, when it comes to women. According to statistics, women make 20% threshold in the STEM industry. With the advancement in technology, we now gradually see changes whereby more women are interested in studying STEM subjects and in this case, Technology. Having been in a class dominated by men, the journey wasn’t easy at all. Deriving motivation from Ada Lovelace, who was the first computer programmer, the future for Women in technology is brighter. Women techies are seeking to tackle what most of our male counterparts do.

Growing work force

In Kenya, its particular to note that the numbers are rising. To mention but a few, Judith Owiga of Akirachix, Jamilla Abass of M-farm and Cate Mahigu among others, show how technology has been embraced largely by women. They do take up competitive posts, innovate and work hard to bring out the best of Technology to the world. In that context, it is noticed that many tech companies are now more open to employ as many women as men due to the same deliverables being offered. With everything being digitized, there’s urgent need of work force, that’s where women come in.

Competition

At work places, women do compete for the little top positions that are available in Tech companies. How ironical is it to be asked what an RJ45 is, however the same isn’t being asked to their male counterparts. Even with the state of affairs, some individuals tend to think that women hardly know anything about technology. It’s a disadvantage, more likely, when searching for job placements. It places women to work a little extra harder to prove they are knowledgeable.

Sadly, Gender disparity is still being experienced by women in Tech. We need to believe in women and also give equal opportunities to deliver. I have met great women techies who are an inspiration. Encourage the young folk to venture into STEM subjects, that’s where the world is heading to. Challenging oneself to achieve what is unachievable. Lets have more lady engineers, scientists, techies and the world will become a better global village.

Kindly share your sentiments on this,

* How many women are in your IT department ?

* Do you know any self-made woman techie ?

9Jan, 2019

Away with the holiday innuendos

Its January, most dreaded month of all the 12 months in a year. Happy New Year! 2019 it is. Anyone with resolutions? From our side, None. Choose to live each day as it comes!

The holiday season just concluded, all the merry-making, all the fun, family, booze and nonetheless illicit affairs that have lasted a fortnight…GONE! Christmas holidays act as a relief to many people, however to most, if it were scrapped off, the better. The well off families go on holidays, second class citizens find their ways to their villages and the so not lucky are stuck in the city.

Families gather on this most crucial time of the year, celebrating what is mostly known as “Birth of Christ”. Woe unto those guys who come from divided families, those that don’t value oneness. It can be one hell of a lonely holiday. The prodigal sons of our land, finally find their ways back home. To some, this moment acts as a way to brag to their village mates….. Car hire swinging hired car keys left to right. Wonders, Don’t car Keys fit in Pockets? Lol, we have none of our own, so probably we have no idea! Ha ha ha

To some, this season is just one hell of agony. Fares are hiked, one can’t travel to the countryside with the little they earned. Saving is out of the question, It’s too little to spare some for the coming hey days. Reasons why you see many families, heading to Uhuru Park to pass time and maybe let the little ones enjoy themselves on that little budget they have. On the other hand, its expensive traveling with the whole family, shopping and also setting aside some money to ‘pay’ some long-lost relatives who think the City has money growing trees. Quite unfortunate!

January, and its back to business. All the fancy foods suddenly disappear. It takes wisest people who bravely brace the jaws of this month. Some people, end up taking too many loans to survive. Eating greens 24/7 heck, its healthy but maintain the previous month’s diet of “Nyam-chom” (Grilled meat), oozing down with brown bottled liquor. It gets more hard having a balanced diet for some folks who had spent their entire year’s savings on “Enjoying” the holidays.

The ever ignored Mama mboga suddenly becomes a person of interest. The unending greetings prepare her for the worst. “I need a loan for Sukuma, weka na nyanya mbili tutaonana baadaye”,coming from a person who hardly buys from her. Its not mockery but come to think of it, isn’t this really funny?

Schools reopen, and for families with school going children get the drill. Requirements’ list… a whole whooping A4 listing, demands! As a person who literally forgot that tomorrow is a stone-throw away, starts gasping for breath. Others did plan earlier, then comes the government with the confusion. Is it right to plan ahead without fear of impromptu changes? Sometimes it pains being a Kenyan. History has it, it’s the beginning of the month that lending societies and apps have a feast. So many people to cater for, at exorbitant interest rates that they ignore to look at.

Overspending had them begging for leniency with the schools, landlord and most service providers. Must stop?

This moment is only great to ones who had themselves all figured out eons ago. Setting aside some small monies in regard to holidays. Planning ahead to enjoy all the 12 months of the year, rocket science but its possible. Luckier are the people who have their leave days in January, at least it’s less expensive. Hotel rates are down, not congested and pretty much more privatized. Serious business.

Feel free to share your thoughts on this……

22Dec, 2018

Depression ; Kenya’s Deadliest

With the onset of many deaths linking it to Mental health, Depression is today’s main focus, the silent killer. A question might linger, What is Mental Health ? Mental Health, according to WHO( World Health Organization) “is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his/her community”. In today’s society, many deaths are confirmed to be caused by mental illness. By definition, Mental illness is a condition which causes a serious disorder in a person’s behavior or thinking. The common types of mental illness including Depression are,

Anxiety disorder
Bipolar disorder
Dementia
Hyperactivity/ Attention deficit disorder
Schizophrenia
Autism
PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder)
Obsessive compulsive disorder

What exactly is depression?

Depression is a disorder which is characterized by one persistently feeling moody, losing interest in activities thus causing a significant impairment in life.

Living in a country where mental health isn’t taken seriously, we see so many people drowning in it, without getting the urgent help they need. Depression kills. It kills so bad and it’s quite hard to know who among us is sinking.

Being on social media, we see cries of help… each day! Whereby most of us tend to brush it off as, Attention seeking. Least we find out later that we are failing our friends, families, colleagues and children. A cry of help marks the final try of finding out, “who will eventually come forward to help me”. Depressed persons are more unlikely to know that they’re sick. It’s up to us, the people who surround them to notice and encourage them to seek help, and also lead them through the healing process.

HOW?

In one way or another, we can say, most of us are the perpetrators of letting depression happen. We live in a society where we are so oblivious of what the next person is feeling. A society that literally doesn’t care what happens to a person. It’s a shame. We’re not available when needed, we don’t listen, we shrug off cries of need, we ignore the tale signs and later come on to regret when it’s seemingly, too late.

On the other hand, depressed persons can wear masks in such a way that, it’s unnoticeable he/she is sick. The once jovial, life of the party, the most helpful person you knew, suddenly kills him/herself. Leaving behind a note explaining how empty they felt. You wonder why? It doesn’t choose. The void within, however how good you are… can lead one to do drastic decisions. Mostly, it’s a way to seek help… but in a more open way. Based on a true story, on matters depression….. 13 reasons why on www.netflix.com, highlights how slowly, a 17-year-old student eventually killed herself, Depression!

It’s serious, we need to work on matters Depression. The number of deaths witnessed only on social media, is unaccountable. We need to change as a society. We need to come through and help eradicate depression within us. Needless to say, it has so many causes ranging from loss of a loved one, the inability to reach your goals, stressful life, family feuds, abuse, environment, substance abuse among others. Let’s help each other out, this disorder doesn’t choose, open up, talk to people… in one way or the other, sharing relieves .

In case anyone knows a person undergoing depression/any mental health illness, below are some links to organizations that may be of help.

Help create a safe haven for depressed people. Accommodate and encourage them that, soon, it shall come to pass. Help them and the society at large, to conquer this illness that is so unforgiving – if not caught earlier on!

9Dec, 2018

Corporate Mothers

The modern day mothers are the pillars of this world, heck….I’m not discrediting our own mothers, who took it upon themselves, to raise us.

With the advent changes in today’s world, We see women struggling to climb up the corporate ladder and balancing it with being superb home makers! Pretty intense,right?

A woman has to juggle between her 8-5 job, head home to make sure everything is up and running . To those jiggly young children, the ever bubbly toddler and her handsome “mature” baby, the husband!. Its pretty hard, even if its cheap to get a house help in Africa. Sometimes, they don’t really work out!

Back to the career scene, a woman, who stays out of employment for 2 or so years, wont get past that Interview committee without raising eyebrows, and explaining where she was. No one understands that, having children and staying behind to raise them is also a full-term Job. Shouldn’t we also include it in our resumes?

Head over to homes where the woman is the sole bread winner of a family. All bills on her, hungry mouths yawning at her. How well can she deal with this issue? Resign from work? Start self employment? Grapple with the effects of overworking oneself to provide better? Answer is No, she has no options but suck it all up and act as that lioness she is! Brave up and do what a woman has to do.

The modern woman has so much burden. I know each and every one out here has encountered some challenges as a woman. You have to prosper in your corporate field, you also need to raise your children. Does it stop? Affirmative No! They both have to work concurrently.

Despite these, all you can see is that ever smiling mother, she doesn’t complain about how hard life is, trying to balance her life, her children,work and also with able men (carrier-wise).

Working mothers should at least be pardoned. Raising children is a hard task, a huge responsibility . To the HR-M’s, be lenient , that work experience gap has a reason! Lets keep the fire burning,take it easy!