Majority of Organizations Do Not Have a Formal Process for Facilitating Knowledge Transfer Between Employees, Reports Info-Tech Research Group

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Jan 12, 2023, 16:30 ET

Defining formal transition plans for at-risk key roles and their successors improves organizational performance by reducing the impact of sudden departures.

TORONTO, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Although pending retirements in key roles can create workforce risks and potentially impact business continuity, many organizations have not tackled succession planning, according to studies from global IT research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group. To guide organizations in assessing key role incumbent risk factors and to identify potential successors and their readiness, the firm has published its new industry blueprint titled Build an IT Succession Plan.

Info-Tech’s step-by-step guide to help organizations build a future-proofed IT team from the firm’s “Build an IT Succession Plan” blueprint. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

According to Info-Tech's research, most organizations are unprepared for the loss of employees who hold key roles, with the majority of organizations having no formal process for facilitating knowledge transfer between individuals. The departure of employees in key positions can negatively affect an organization as valuable knowledge, core business relationships, and profits are lost with their exit. Planning and executing key role transitions can take years. The firm recommends CIOs prepare now to mitigate the risk of loss later.

The blueprint's studies further indicate that when workers leave and don't effectively transfer their knowledge, the organization can start to face the duplication of efforts to solve problems and find solutions. Losing knowledge can make an organization vulnerable as it can impede the ability to identify, understand, and mitigate risks and stifle growth by lost client relationships. Innovation within an organization is also negatively affected by reduced capacity since tenured employees can determine the status quo faster to make way for novel thinking.

Info-Tech advises organizations to plan for the transfer of critical knowledge held by key role incumbents to build an effective IT succession plan. It is also important to explore alternative work arrangements to ensure sufficient time to prepare successors. The following approach is outlined in the blueprint as a holistic solution for building a future-proofed IT team:

1. Talent Review – Conduct a talent review to identify key roles.

a. Identify Critical Roles
b. Assess Talent

2. Succession Planning – Succession planning helps to assess which key roles are most at risk.

a. Identify Successors
b. Develop Successors
c. Select Successors

3. Knowledge Transfer – Utilize methods that make it easy to apply the knowledge in day-to-day practice.

a. Identify Critical Knowledge
b. Select Transfer Methods
c. Document Role Transition Plans

Further, the benefits of a future-proofed IT team include:

Business continuity
The right people, in the right positions, at the right time
Retention due to employee development and growth
IT success
Decreased impact of sudden departures
Improved performance

It is best that organizations prepare now to mitigate the risk of potential loss later. Losing employees in key roles without adequate preparation for their departure directly impacts the bottom line in terms of disrupted productivity, lost knowledge, severed relationships, and missed opportunities, especially during what could be a turbulent economic period over the coming year.

To learn more, download the complete Build an IT Succession Plan blueprint.

For more about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and Twitter

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading information technology research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals. The company produces unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For 25 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with IT teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 IT and Industry analysts through the ITRG Media Insiders Program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group