{"id":9561,"date":"2020-10-22T06:13:19","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T06:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ca.syspro.com\/blog\/how-coos-can-contribute-to-software-selection-and-deployment\/"},"modified":"2021-03-04T14:51:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T14:51:16","slug":"how-coos-can-contribute-to-software-selection-and-deployment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ca.syspro.com\/blog\/erp-implementation\/how-coos-can-contribute-to-software-selection-and-deployment\/","title":{"rendered":"How COOs can Contribute to Software Selection and Deployment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The COO is at the center of business. While the role of the COO differs from organization to organization, it is the COO in conjunction with the Executive team that drive and build the necessary<\/p>\n

foundations, structures, processes and strategies for an\u00a0organization\u00a0to be successful.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The role of\u00a0the\u00a0COO<\/strong><\/h2>\n

COOs today have to handle the traditional operational responsibilities and at the same time lead a company\u2019s strategic initiatives. They fulfill\u00a0several\u00a0key roles.<\/p>\n

– Help make the CEO\u2019s vision a reality<\/p>\n

– Whereas the CEO is focused on strategy, the COO has to lead the execution and implementation of strategy<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

– The COO has to enforce and set controls within the organization\u00a0ensuring execution of the operational plans<\/p>\n

– The COO needs to work with the CFO to grow the business, improve decision-making and control spending<\/p>\n

–\u00a0The agenda for business change\u00a0and adoption of new technologies that\u00a0enable\u00a0business to move ahead of their competition and in line with the overall strategy,\u00a0is\u00a0in many cases owned by the\u00a0COO, while\u00a0execution will happen across business functions and C- level executives.<\/p>\n

In effect, the COO is the \u201cheads down\u201d counterpart to the \u201cheads up\u201d CEO.<\/p>\n

The COO\u2019s role<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Development<\/strong><\/td>\nExecution<\/strong><\/td>\nEnablement<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Driving key change and transformation initiatives<\/td>\nShaping the future of the business<\/td>\nEnsuring suitable operations management<\/td>\nOptimal operational processes<\/td>\nDesigning a framework to turn strategy into operations<\/td>\nManaging the strategic assets of the company<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Adapted from McKinsey Global Survey<\/p>\n

COOs and digital transformation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many businesses have begun transformation projects, mainly in the wake of changes brought about by the COVID-19\u00a0pandemic. According to Gartner, over two-thirds of companies surveyed have accelerated their digital business initiatives, and almost one half will be changing their business model<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Because this impacts so many aspects of the organization, the COO takes the lead on digital transformation.<\/p>\n

As businesses change, the COO needs to oversee and steer changes. It’s not only standards, processes, and infrastructure that have to change, but also critical to manage the human aspects\u00a0of\u00a0change. Business\u00a0changes not adopted and owned by the employees of a company will not be successful and will fail to deliver the desired results and objectives.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0COO should\u00a0be driving the conversation on\u00a0how to use new technologies<\/strong><\/a>, and decide how to\u00a0create\u00a0greater efficiency, resulting in high output and cost\u00a0savings.\u00a0.\u00a0<\/span>Streamlining investment in new technologies and operational cost savings are typical key focus areas for a\u00a0<\/u>COO. With their knowledge of the company, the COO can add their insight when it comes to addressing operations and productivity challenges.<\/p>\n

COOs and technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the past, business strategies were often planned, and then IT was brought in during the final phases. Because technology is an enabler of business growth, there needs to be greater collaboration with the CIO. So while technology is the responsibility of the CIO, it is largely the COO’s job to ensure the adoption of these initiatives by the organization, as well as to ensure the business find the right people with the right skills to ensure successful implementation and integration into operations.<\/p>\n

With the hard boundaries around IT fading, and the ownership of the technology portfolio changing, the COO is becoming responsible for creating operations and structures to support the delivery of the organization\u2019s products and services; which includes architectures and business processes. Therefore the COO should play a key role in setting and executing the vision for a modern enterprise IT architecture that can support the existing business and that also offers new collaborative, customer-oriented, operational, and analytical capabilities that are required to create and drive new business models.<\/p>\n

COOs and software to manage the enterprise<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Implementing an enterprise software solutions supports the business objectives that a COO has.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n