By Gregg Ostrowski, Executive CTO, Cisco AppDynamics
Being a technologist isn’t like it used to be!
The latest research from Cisco AppDynamics — the ‘Agents of Transformation 2022’ report — finds 88% of global technology professionals reporting that the last four years have changed what it means to be a technologist, and altered what is required to deliver seamless digital experiences in a world of hybrid work.
In 2018, our first Agents of Transformation study revealed the emergence of a group of elite technologists at the forefront of innovation, with the skills, vision and determination to deliver positive and sustainable transformation and leave a lasting legacy. But of course, nobody could have predicted the seismic events that were coming down the line.
In response, these elite technologists have had to adapt and reinvent themselves to stay relevant and to ensure they’re able to drive transformation in a very different world. Indeed, 84% of technology professionals claim that the skills and qualities that define an Agent of Transformation have evolved over the last four years.
The research uncovers seven skills and qualities that have become more important for Agents of Transformation to demonstrate in the new world of hybrid work, and they make useful reading for any technologist looking to accelerate their career and reach the summit of their profession.
Elite technologists are using real-time insights to optimize the digital experience and link IT performance to business outcomes. 93% of global technologists say that being able to monitor and observe all technical areas across their IT stack and directly link technology performance to business outcomes is now important to become Agents of Transformation.
Agents of Transformation are increasingly able to interpret data and identify trends to make decisions and prioritize their actions. Technologists need to find ways to cut through overwhelming data noise across an increasingly fragmented and dynamic IT environment to generate actionable insights which can inform their approach.
Agents of Transformation are doing more to support, empower and inspire their colleagues to drive innovation and navigate through difficult challenges. Technologists are pushing each other to reach new heights and 85% say that they would like to work alongside more Agents of Transformation.
Elite technologists are preparing themselves for future technology and business demands. For instance, many have needed to learn new skills and approaches in order to get to grips with a cloud-first application strategy based on cloud native solutions. They’ve recognized the need to do this in order to deliver accelerated innovation and meet customer demands for seamless digital experiences.
Agents of Transformation are demonstrating the insight, vision and credibility to shape strategy based on real-time business metrics. The age-old gap between IT and the business is disappearing, with 88% of technologists now considering themselves to be business leaders.
84% of technologists recognize that the need to maintain the performance of applications is more important than ever. This is because consumers and employees now have zero tolerance for anything other than brilliant and flawless digital experiences. Elite technologists are ensuring that they fully understand rapidly evolving customer needs and expectations and feeding this into their innovation strategies.
Agents of Transformation are looking to engage with every corner of the organization and to upskill employees around new technologies. They’re also leaning on strategic partners to develop their strategies and explore new approaches.
