Apac
  • Home
  • CXO Insights
  • CIO Views
  • News
  • Conferences
  • Newsletter
  • Whitepapers
  • About us
Apac
  • Admired Tech

    Agile

    AI Healthcare

    Artificial Intelligence

    Augmented Reality

    Aviation

    Big Data

    Blockchain

    Cloud

    Cryptocurrency

    Cyber Security

    Digital Transformation

    Drone

    HPC

    Infrared

    Internet of Things

    Networking

    PropTech

    Remote Work

    Scheduling Software

    Simulation

    Startup

    Storage

    Wireless

  • Banking

    E-Commerce

    Education

    FinTech

    Food and Beverages

    Healthcare

    Insurance

    Legal

    Manufacturing

    Pharma and Life Science

    Retail

    Travel and Hospitality

  • CISCO

    Microsoft

    Oracle

    Salesforce

    SAP

    ServiceNow

  • Business Intelligence

    CEM

    Cloud-based Planning

    Cognitive

    Compliance

    Contact Center

    Contact Tracing

    Contactless Payments

    Content Management System

    Corporate Finance

    CRM

    Custom Software Development

    Data Center

    Enterprise Architecture

    Enterprise Communications

    Enterprise Contract Management

    ERP

    Field Service

    HR Technology

    IT Service Management

    Managed Services

    Procurement

    Product Management

    RegTech

    Revenue Management

Menu
    • Retail
    • Cognitive
    • Digital Transformation
    • E-Commerce
    • Blockchain
    • RegTech
    • IT Service Management
    • Augmented Reality
    • Microsoft
    • Managed Services
    • Collaboration
    • Healthcare
    • MORE
    #

    Apac CIO Outlook Weekly Brief

    ×

    Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Apac CIO Outlook

    Subscribe

    loading

    THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING

    • Home
    • Retail
    Editor's Pick (1 - 4 of 8)
    left
    AI becomes Personal

    Sherif Mityas, CIO & Chief Experience Officer, TGI Fridays

    Is Your Head in the Sand?

    Marc Kermisch, VP & CIO, Red Wing Shoe

    Laying a Foundation for the New-Age Retail Industry

    Paul Karras, SVP & CIO, Wilton Brands

    Discover the First Mile

    Ruben Martin, Co-Founder &CTO/ COO, Quivers

    The Missing Link for Retail: Closing the Loop between Point of Sale and Marketing

    David Inggs, CTO, VMob

    It all Comes Together in Retail.  In a World of Possibilities, Where to Start?

    Simon Kennedy, CIO, The Warehouse Group

    End to End Supply Chain Planning is the Need of the Hour

    Abel Correa, CIO, Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited

    Expectations of a CIO Today are Embryonic

    Ashok Sethi, CIO, Sapient

    right

    Driving a Performance Culture

    By Paul Scorza, CIO, Ahold USA

    Tweet
    content-image

    Paul Scorza, CIO, Ahold USA

    LEAPING FROM TRADITIONAL TO DIGITAL FRONT

    Over the past couple of years, there has been a shift in the role of the CIO at Ahold USA. Until recently, the role of the CIO, and IT in general, had been viewed as a support function. In the Retail industry, particularly Grocery Retail, successful businesses need the ability to react quickly to changing customer demands and perceptions. The explosion of mobile technology and the need for immediate responses to customer demands has increased the reliance on technology. As a result, Information Technology at Ahold USA, has become an integral component in enabling the business to be more competitive in the marketplace. This was most evident with the elevation of the CIO role to the Executive Board, giving the CIO an equal say and vote in all business decisions. There is also a mind shift within the IT team where all projects are approached from the perspective of the business value that they bring, rather than the novelty of the technology. Two years ago, we began to develop a five year IT roadmap, and this roadmap is anchored around a well-defined business strategy, which provided increased capability and functionality to the business units. This process helped flush out non-value added projects, and ensured that the investments were made in the right areas and for the right reasons. Outside of projects that address compliance and regulatory requirements, all other IT projects are approved based on business benefits which are reflected in the business unit’s budget.

    “Outside of projects that address compliance and regulatory requirements, all other it projects are approved based on business benefits which are reflected in the business unit’s budget”

    IT Business Consultants are embedded within the business units and are continually working with their counterparts to evaluate the strategy for their units, and make modification to the IT roadmap as necessary. On an annual basis, the business consultants confer with their business stakeholders to determine the projects for the coming year and to identify the priority of the projects. Once all the requests have been identified, a recommendation is made to the Executive Board based on the anticipated benefits. The recommendation is evaluated in the context of the overall business goals and budgets, and changes are made accordingly. In order to facilitate quick decision making across the company, Ahold USA instituted a tiered governance structure, from a cross section of the business, to make decisions at lower levels in the company, up to the Executive Board, which makes the more strategic decisions. As IT is now viewed as an integral part of the business, there is a governance group that is dedicated to reviewing and managing the IT roadmap. The group meets regularly to review all aspects of the roadmap. As business goals change, there may be a need to re-prioritize or trade off certain initiatives in favor of other projects. Each project is evaluated on its own merit. The decision of what project comes off and what comes on is based on each project’s business value.

    STEERING TECHNOLOGY

    The most important piece of advice I can give is to take care of your employees by making sure they feel supported and have good opportunities for growth. IT is a generic function regardless of the industry which it is supporting. The skill sets, however, are very different from those of the rest of the organization. As such the career ladders and development requirements are different. One cannot apply the same skills and career ladders to IT as the rest of the organization. At Ahold USA, we have developed a special career framework that is focused on developing technical skills and capabilities, in addition to the traditional career paths. It allows for job rotations and helps retain talent by allowing associates, who are technically inclined, to grow their capabilities and careers without the management responsibilities found in traditional career paths. In an environment where the next generation workforce is looking for diversity, flexibility and quick growth in their careers, career paths like those established here help attract new talent. In addition to focusing on technical skills, there is a heavy emphasis on driving a performance culture. For example, as with many other companies, Ahold USA partnered with third party providers to outsource certain aspects of its IT operations. In this new way of working, the IT associates function as ‘general contractors’ to the business units and are accountable for the delivery of projects. The suppliers function as ‘subcontractors’ and are responsible for the delivery of their pieces of the project. Project success or failure ultimately rolls up to the IT associate in charge of the project. As a result, we have had to develop new skill sets within the IT team, to be able to effectively operate in this way of working.

    Ahold is a world-leading food retailer with 6,500 stores worldwide and 3,75,000 people, serving 50 million satisfied customers a week. Ahold Delhaize’s companies in the U.S. include some of the country’s most established and best known supermarkets, along with some of its most innovative and successful online grocers.

    tag

    Information Technology

    Weekly Brief

    loading
    Top 10 Retail Tech Companies - 2020
    Top 10 Catering and Retail Technology Solution Companies - 2020

    Featured Vendors

    Fedelta

    Scott Buckham, Technical Director

    AOPEN

    Stephen Borg, CEO

    ON THE DECK

    Retail 2020

    Top Vendors

    Retail 2019

    Top Vendors

    Previous Next

    I agree We use cookies on this website to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. More info

    Read Also

    Accelerating Petcare Innovation through CRM and Digital Vision

    Accelerating Petcare Innovation through CRM and Digital Vision

    Miao Song, Chief Information Officer, Mars Petcare
    How Cloud Systems are Impacting Business Environments

    How Cloud Systems are Impacting Business Environments

    Martin Stegner, CIO, NOVUM Hospitality
    Digital Tack

    Digital Tack

    Claus Nehmzow, Chief Innovation Officer, Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte
    Brokering the Cloud Services

    Brokering the Cloud Services

    Eric Boyette, Secretary & State CIO, Information Technology
    Defining a Cloud Strategy: A Higher Education Paradigm

    Defining a Cloud Strategy: A Higher Education Paradigm

    Russell M. Kaurloto, VP and CIO, Clemson University
    The 4Ps of Digital Transformation in Pharmaceutical Industry

    The 4Ps of Digital Transformation in Pharmaceutical Industry

    Debraj Dasgupta, Operating Officer, Head of Strategy and Go-To-Market Planning Division, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim
    Technology’s Role in The Care and Quality of Life for The Aged

    Technology’s Role in The Care and Quality of Life for The Aged

    Jose A Perez, Chief Information Officer, Hammondcare
    How ECM is Revolutionizing Organizations

    How ECM is Revolutionizing Organizations

    Thomas Phelps IV, VP of Corporate Strategy & CIO, Laserfiche
    Loading...

    Copyright © 2021 APAC CIOoutlook. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy  |  Sitemap |  Subscribe

    follow on linkedinfollow on twitter follow on rss
    This content is copyright protected

    However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the link below:

    https://retail.apacciooutlook.com/ciospeaks/driving-a-performance-culture-nwid-4068.html?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=apacciooutlook_topslider