LOGAN — Staying agile in a world of high technology means more than just keeping up with changes, according to David Berg.

That's the message that Berg, senior vice president and chief information officer at Salt Lake-based O.C. Tanner, told a group at Utah State University on Thursday.

Berg stressed that information technology departments must remain agile by using technology, implementing proper governance and instilling a sense of spirit, the last of which includes having IT workers be "more than just a geek."

"The business needs to quickly change to stay competitive," Berg said at an IT seminar that was part of the USU "Partners in Business" series. "Today, you cannot change any piece of the business without some piece of the system being changed. . . . Agility is all about being connected with the business, being able to operate fast on your feet and doing what the business wants you to do."

Those philosophies have worked well at O.C. Tanner, a company specializing in employee recognition products. The company had the best year in its 75-year history in 2003, the same year the company was honored by CIO magazine for its technology agility. It was the only Utah company on the "CIO 100" list.

Technology's mission in a company is to keep the business running and improve the business, but Berg said it also must include an opportunity to have fun and be productive. That's why the "spirit" element is more important than either the governance or technology aspects, he said.

In the case of O.C. Tanner, "every person is agile," he said. The company keeps them that way through employee appraisals every six months, rating them on overall productivity, their relevant business and technical knowledge and their relationships with other employees.

Having people love working with you is important, he said, as the ultimate goal of people working in highly productive self-directed teams results in agility in spirit.

Berg cited studies that show that up to 85 percent of employees in the IT industry are dissatisfied with their work, and few of any type of employee feel engaged in their work. But that can be overcome by having a "use me creatively, pay me fairly and treat me kindly" philosophy, he said.

Recognition for good work, including the use of financial and other incentives, will help.

In the governance area, O.C. Tanner uses monthly rankings of company priorities, with input from operating executive leaders, to remain focused. And that IT department delivers monthly on the plans, he said.

"It gives us agility in governance. We're connecting every month, and we're dialoguing with the business monthly. It doesn't matter how many resources you have; you never have enough to do it all, so you have to make some decisions."

Setting priorities and quickly working to address them keeps everyone busy and the company nimble, he said.

"Anything you do long term," he said, "by the time you get there, it isn't what they want you to do anyway."

---

E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com