Digital isn't the only transformation going on these days -- there is also a profound career transformation reshaping the roles and aspirations of the people building the digital world. This is creating some confusion in the technology career space, as tech professionals are being told they need to pay more attention to developing business skills over their deep technological knowledge.
While tech managers and professionals are evolving to more business-focused roles, they also need to bring their technology skills to the table as well. "Some technologists who want to remain hands-on with deployment and innovation" -- and that's okay, says Haluk Saker,[1] senior vice president for Booz Allen Hamilton[2]. "Companies are making way for deep technical leadership and recognizing the value that senior IT engineers bring to executive-level discussions and decision-making. For those who are passionate technologists, who want to remain in the trenches, it's important to find companies and cultures that have made technical leadership a priority."
To solve issues through technology, "it's not going to be about a new fix or functionality," says Saker. "Tomorrow's leaders will need to have a dual focus that balances technical expertise with immersion in the mission."
Welcome to the era of the renaissance technology professional, who needs to be equipped with two tiers of skills, providing an ability to look at problems from both technical and people perspectives. The 2020s business demands that, experts across the business technology landscape agree.
Technology skills requirements haven't gone away, but the focus has shifted away from basic coding, integration and systems performance work and now includes delivering business value. Get to know the business, industry observers advise. "It's important to start to learn about finance, business processes, and other strategies that make