Unifying the management of business and technology will sooner or later involve everyone in the organization, from the chairman of the board of directors to the newest hire on the project team. It is not a temporary activity assigned to a committee; it is a new way of doing business. While technologists may initially see the need for it, it will work only with the full participation of their business colleagues. Convergence requires not only new roles and responsibilities but also a new mindset and new skills. In converged companies, business-unit and technology leaders operate almost interchangeably: every manager is accountable for some business-related aspect of technology—whether it’s product design, operations, or customer service. Next generation leaders have mastered the skills needed to articulate their business objectives and then use technology to achieve those objectives.
