Published: 28 April 2026
Due to the firefighting nature of the IT infrastructure and operations function, I&O staff typically lack both the protected time needed to solve perennial problems as well as the exposure to other IT domains and business functions that inspire new ways of working. This lack of time and exposure stifles creativity, inhibits openness to change, and can decrease job satisfaction among I&O employees. Heads of I&O should host I&O-sponsored hackathons to set aside dedicated time for creative problem solving in a cross-functional environment, which fosters innovation and new ideation, and accelerates efforts to elevate the function from service provider to business enabler.
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