In an EOS company, IT’s role often sparks debate or gets lost. Is “The IT Seat in an EOS Company: Essential or Overlooked?” As businesses increasingly rely on technology for growth and efficiency, IT leadership becomes crucial. Yet, many organizations still struggle to recognize its true value. In a company running the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), every role is essential for success. One of the most critical roles is the IT seat, which many small and medium-sized companies find challenging. Think of a guitar with six strings, each tuned to a specific note. Each string represents a key seat on the leadership team: Visionary, Integrator, Sales/Marketing, Operations, Finance, and IT. When one string is out of tune, the entire song suffers. EOS helps keep your company in tune. Is IT one of your strings?
EOS helps keep your company in tune. Is IT one of your strings? Or is your IT seat essential or overlooked? Marshall Fall, our Marketing Director, shows you this analogy in his LinkedIn post – see it here.
Key Considerations for Taking on the IT Seat in an EOS Company
When someone takes on the IT seat, several crucial factors must be considered. The IT seat is vital for ensuring the company operates smoothly and can proactively address challenges.
Importance of the IT seat in an EOS Company
- Proactive vs. Reactive:Having a dedicated IT seat allows the company to be proactive rather than reactive. This means anticipating issues before they become problems and planning strategically for future needs.
- Integration with Other Roles: Sometimes, IT responsibilities fall under other seats like Operations or Finance. However, having a distinct IT seat ensures that IT is not overlooked and receives the attention it deserves.
- Involvement in Planning and Strategy: The IT seat should be involved in all planning and strategy conversations. This involvement ensures that IT considerations are integrated into every aspect of the business, from daily operations to long-term goals.
- Elevated Role: IT is woven through many rocks, to-dos, and milestones. Elevating the IT role within the organization helps align IT initiatives with business objectives and ensures that IT supports the company’s growth.
The Role of the IT Seat in an EOS Company
- Connecting All Functions: The IT seat connects all aspects of the business, ensuring that technology supports every department and functions effectively.
- Strategic Thought Leadership: By being involved in strategic planning, the IT seat can provide valuable insights into how technology can drive business success. This includes budgeting, planning, and implementing new technologies.
- Checks and Balances: The IT seat provides a good checks and balances system, assessing what can be done with the current tech stack and identifying areas that need new solutions.
Challenges and Considerations
- Understanding the Business Direction: The IT seat needs to deeply understand the company’s direction, future plans, and how the business operates. This knowledge allows IT to support the company effectively.
- Involvement from the Beginning: IT should be involved from the beginning of any project or initiative. Non-technical people often don’t realize how integral IT is to every rock and milestone, leading to last-minute, reactionary fixes..
- Perception of IT: Unfortunately, IT is often viewed as a cost center rather than an investment unless the company is tech-driven. Changing this perception is crucial for leveraging IT as a strategic asset.
- Budgeting and Planning: Involving IT in budgeting and planning ensures that technology investments are well thought out and aligned with business needs. This involvement helps avoid overspending and ensures that resources are used effectively.
- IT as a Competitive Advantage: If IT is a competitive advantage for your organization, it may warrant a dedicated leader responsible for it. This leader can drive innovation and ensure that IT capabilities are leveraged to maintain a competitive edge.
Summing it Up
Taking on the IT seat in an EOS company involves much more than just managing technology. You need to engage strategically, plan proactively, and deeply understand the business. By focusing on these factors, the IT seat can drive business growth, ensure smooth operations, and support the company’s long-term success.
Allocating IT responsibilities depends on your organization’s size and the strategic role IT plays in your business. The key is simplicity—clearly define ownership using the Accountability Chart (A/C) framework and eliminate any ambiguity about who is ultimately accountable. This clarity ensures your IT infrastructure drives business growth and success. No matter which direction you choose, fostering alignment, effectively managing the tools that power your business, and maintaining smooth operations are essential.
If your organization lacks the right people to fill this role, partnering with an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) can be a game-changer, especially one familiar with EOS and operating on it themselves. An MSP can bridge gaps, provide expert support, and keep your business running smoothly.
In the end, it all comes down to clarity, alignment, and accountability.
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