The expression ‘Lost in Translation’ has a special significance for me. I was born in a region of the world where cold meant any time temperature drops below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. At the age of 10, I left the familiar for a place where winter temperature dropped below freezing, people wore things that looked like they just came off of large furry animals, and I had to learn English to survive.
As someone who’s now fluent in two languages, I have an insight a person who can’t speak multiple languages may never have. Language is about connection, trust and relationships. To be fluent in a language is more than knowing the right amount of words. It means being able to understand the nuances of the culture of that language and with that understanding, the ability to connect and gain trust.
The separation between IT and the business has many parallels to my early life experiences with learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. IT and the business have distinct cultures and ways of communicating. For IT to be able to bridge the gap between the two cultures, the language spoken has to illustrate IT’s understanding of the value system of the rest of the enterprise.
Changing how IT communicates its contributions with the rest of the enterprise starts with changing the information it shares with executives and business stakeholders. IT’s strategic role in enabling business success means IT is also a rich source of high-value metrics that are early indicators of success or failure of business results.
