From Silos to Synergy: How to Organise for Collaborative Digital Leadership

A collaborative leadership model that can help develop a shared roadmap and capability goals for multi-domain challenges like AI adoption

In today's fast-paced technology landscape, cohesive digital leadership is crucial to success. Organisations must adapt quickly to remain competitive - and cross-functional Digital Leadership Groups are an important method to achieve this.

Digital transformation and especially the adoption of AI and automation demand a collaborative approach to digital strategy and development. These are no longer simply technology challenges, but fundamental shifts in the organisational operating system that encompass people, process, technology and also architecture, which means we cannot leave them to IT alone. We are seeing a shift in most companies from vertical silos where IT is a key support function towards organisations as platforms where digital technology is everywhere, and needs to be better connected, coordinated and planned than before.

A collaborative and unified approach to digital strategy, marshalling the efforts of all key functions, is a better and more sustainable approach than just creating yet-another-CXO role (as Lee argued recently) or enabling piecemeal, siloed efforts that result in a proliferation of point solutions and duplication of effort.

Challenges such as AI adoption are where a DLG can really shine. No single CXO has a span of control that can ensure success across all aspects of a multi-domain challenge like this, but working together based on a shared roadmap and capability targets, organisations can achieve a lot more whilst ensuring all key perspectives are included.

A shared digital transformation roadmap today needs to encompass a great deal more than just technology development, and should ideally be guided by a common map that defines the new digital business capabilities the organisation can build on, and pinpoint those it needs to develop to fulfil its strategic vision.

In this edition of Shift*Academy, we explore the vital role played by Digital Leadership Groups in guiding digital transformation, and share some practical guidance, detailed steps and experience-based insights to help you foster collaborative leadership and improve your change leadership.

Understanding the Role

A Digital Leadership Group (DLG) is a cross-functional coalition of senior stakeholders tasked with guiding and overseeing an organisation's digital transformation initiatives.

It is distinct from a classic steering committee, especially when it comes to driving rapid, organisation-wide change. Comprising influential leaders and stakeholders from various levels and departments, a DLG fosters strategic, cross-functional initiatives. It also plays a key role in developing a compelling vision, maintaining urgency, removing obstacles, and celebrating short-term wins to build momentum.

Typically, a DLG will aim to ensure that:

1. The organisation builds a more deliberately-connected, digitally-enabled business, able to meet both current and future market needs

2. The potential value of digital development is maximised within the organisation

3. Prioritised activities have the biggest impact for both external customers and the internal organisation

4. All activities are aligned to an overarching digital strategy and consistently executed, maximising efficiencies and making the best use of limited resources

5. The organisation captures, shares and repurposes knowledge, methods, tools and insights, and also develops common standards

6. Quality is at the heart of digital development, including the enhancement and protection of data and shared algorithms

DLGs can guide the organisation's digital transformation journey by establishing clear roles, responsibilities and governance structures, promoting collaboration and continuous learning, and - importantly - removing obstacles to implementation and protecting the teams tasked with improvement and change delivery.

Structure and Composition

The success of a DLG should include key stakeholders from across the business to ensure diverse skills and perspectives. Senior executives like the CFO, CHRO, COO, CIO, and CTO provide strategic oversight and align efforts with organisational goals, coordinating with departmental heads, digital experts, data scientists, and analysts who provide insights for informed decision-making.

DLGs can also help engage the wider organisation by convening a network of change agents to champion digital initiatives and promote a culture of innovation. Key responsibilities include developing a shared digital transformation roadmap, allocating resources, identifying necessary skills, establishing policies, and tracking progress.

By using online collaboration tools and maintaining key artefacts as 'living' systems, rather than just documents and slide decks, DLGs should set an example for the organisation in demonstrating continuous, transparent progress.

A typical DLGs membership, their challenges and opportunities