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have a low level of tech literacy. For example,
lawyers being tested could not explain what
the internet is or how it works at a basic level.
They couldn't explain what happens when
you send an email or what "the cloud" is. In
an era where cybersecurity and the ability to
understand, manipulate, combine and use data
are of increasing importance, IT leaders should
develop tech literacy programs. Building literacy
increases familiarity and makes technology less
scary, and that could create large incremental
improvements. P2P
How can IT leaders create future-focused
communities within their organizations?
Brice: We must make sure everybody feels they
have a purpose in the organization. If someones' skills
are appreciated, they are motivated to stay longer.
Retaining good people will enable you to guide them
into being future-focused.
Dan: To maintain a future-focused community, we
need to remember the future is a moving target. If we
look to current high school seniors and accept and learn
how to use the communications tools they use and
understand their value, we can act quickly when the
tools enter the enterprise –– we might even introduce
them before our peers know they're on the horizon.
When we juxtapose college seniors with high school
seniors, we find a wide difference in their tools. But high
school seniors graduate and new students come in, so
we should think about reviewing how communications
have changed every four years.
Ken: One of the biggest things IT leaders can do
is enforce technology literacy. Today in law firms and
law departments –– even in the government –– we
A Future-Focused Community
ASK THE EXPERT
DAN NOTTKE
Dan Nottke is the Chief Information
Officer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Since
joining Kirkland in 2008, Dan
has led the transformation of the
information technology department
from a decentralized team to a
fully centralized, ITIL-based, high-
performing organization. Dan is
currently leading the creation of
a technology strategy that sets a
clear road map for all technology
initiatives and spends for the next
three years. When not teaching
people how to fish at work, Dan
enjoys spending time with his wife,
Mary Jo, and teaching their four
children how to fish. Contact Dan at
dnottke@kirkland.com.
LISTEN TO THE RECORDED
INTERVIEWS ONLINE:
www.iltanet.org/podcasts
To maintain a future-focused
community, we need to remember the
future is a moving target.
