How to Lead and Manage the IT-Literate Workforce

When it comes to IT knowledge, the literacy of non-technical staff at U.S. companies still varies from near-expert to no-clue. However, now that IT technology is supporting virtually every industry, people who are functionally IT-illiterate are handicapping themselves — and their companies. While levels of IT expertise in the general workforce will naturally vary depending on industry, this ExecBlueprint discusses strategies for managing and improving literacy across the spectrum. Here four IT leaders share how they have teamed with leadership at their companies to bring their workforces up to speed with rapidly-advancing technologies. Because IT-literate employees generally are more efficient and productive, the authors emphasize the importance of providing training programs and seminars, which can be administered by managers in their own departments. They even advise how to handle employees who think they know more than you: keep them in the loop, but don't let them unduly influence your process.