SQA Group

As you reflect on the past year and think about your 2024 executive dashboard, what do you wish was on it?

Of course, there will always be a place for the tried-and-true metrics that we're all used to. KPIs like YoY growth, profit margin, employee retention, etc. But in 2024, it's time to also start thinking about the things that have previously felt immeasurable and identify new day-to-day team actions and behaviors that move the needle.

Click here to read VP of Growth Strategy Carrie Majewski's latest blog diving into 3 things that you should be measuring in 2024 ➡ https://sqagroup.com/your-2024-executive-kpis/

Software leaders are always just a moment away from capacity overload, whether it be a new project that comes up, an unexpected break, or someone on the team quits during a critical sprint.

So what can you do today to prepare for tomorrow's surges?

Click here to read Chief Engineer Walter McAdams' latest blog that covers 5 tips to help you get ahead of your next surge ➡ https://sqagroup.com/get-ahead-of-your-next-surge/

Software and application leaders are constantly toggling between core activities and newly prioritized initiatives coming from every direction. The notion of crossing off a to-do never seems to make the list shorter; instead, it just makes space for additional to-dos to be added to the plate.

But the reality is that software and application leaders are always one new project, unexpected break, or resignation away from capacity overload.

Leaders today need to perfect the SDLC shuffle, which involves codifying two main balancing acts at all times:

✅ When you realize you have hit the “one project” that puts you over capacity, act today
✅ Wherever you are in terms of capacity at the moment, prioritize the right moves today to prepare for peak surges tomorrow

Click here to read Chief Engineer Walter McAdams' latest blog diving into 3 steps to take when you’re at or beyond capacity and need to regain clarity of direction ➡ https://sqagroup.com/beyond-capacity-3-steps-to-act/

It has been a year since ChatGPT took off, but IT leaders are still proceeding with caution when it comes to generative AI. While some technical leaders believe it's game-changing, others don't believe that it lives up to the hype.

Click here to dive into a few examples of how CIOs are utilizing generative AI to transform their organizations ➡

CIOs still grapple with what gen AI can do for the enterprise A year since ChatGPT burst on the scene, and despite demonstrable benefits, IT leaders have yet to go all in on gen AI, choosing instead to proceed with caution.

2024 is coming fast and organizations need to be ready for the tech trends that are right around the corner.

From democratized generative AI and AI-augmented development to intelligent applications and platform engineering, you can read more about the latest strategic technology trends here ➡

Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2024 Gartner, Inc. today announced its list of 10 top strategic technology trends that organizations need to explore in 2024. Analysts presented their findings during Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo.

While artificial intelligence is not new, it has never captured the attention of org leaders quite as it has in the last year. Even as companies eye big things with AI, some will emerge as leaders while others as laggards.

What questions should leaders be asking about AI before they jump in head first to ensure they emerge as an AI leader? Click here ➡

11 Questions Every CEO Should Ask about AI / Generative AI - DataScienceCentral.com I’ve been in this industry for over 40 years (yes, I just started in the data and analytics industry when I was 11), and I have NEVER seen anything like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) capture the attention of CEOs (and the dystopic fear of everyone else). Is AI a game-chang...

Digital transformation is essential for success but many organizations struggle to bring it over the finish line. 41% of organizations’ digital transformation initiatives have failed to achieve their desired outcomes.

From wasted investment and operational disruption to customer dissatisfaction and decreased innovation, failed digital transformation efforts can have big repercussions for orgs.

Click here for 10 questions CIOs should be asking themselves to determine where their digital transformation initiatives will land and correct course before it's too late:

10 digital transformation questions every CIO must answer Impactful DX requires a business-centric approach supported by the right skills, culture, and strategy. Here’s how to assess whether your digital journey is on the path to success.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being utilized by organizations everywhere to streamline processes, optimize costs, minimize human error, improve customer experience, and alleviate repetitive tasks. And with generative AI on the rise, the use cases across the business only expand.

Click here to learn more about the 12 most popular ways AI is being used across all industries in the enterprise today ➡

12 most popular AI use cases in the enterprise today From chatbots to predictive maintenance, companies across every industry are putting AI to work to deliver business value. Here’s where AI is having its greatest impact.

Very few will deny the power of people analytics. In fact, 71% of People leaders who are using people analytics state that it’s essential to fueling their HR strategy. But despite this only 19% use data to understand why things are happening, and only 4% use data to predict what will happen (SHRM).

If you had to answer, how would you rate the maturity of people analytics in your org?

🟠 Are you dipping a toe?
🟡 Doubling down with what's working?
🟢 Soaring ahead?

Perhaps more importantly, where do you need to be by the end of the year to meet the demands of the business?

Click here for a quick 2 minute quiz to assess your maturity and receive a personalized report to your email with actionable steps to help you advance forward ➡ https://people-analytics.scoreapp.com/

Be among the small percent who are using people analytics to drive the future of Culture, DEI, and People Ops.

Gartner's 2023 top strategic technology trends for software engineering fall into three categories: developer enablement, AI-augmented software engineering, and scaling software development.

Click here to read more about the 6 trends to keep an eye on ➡

Gartner Identifies the Top Strategic Technology Trends in Software Engineering for 2023 Gartner, Inc. announced the top strategic technology trends in software engineering for 2023 and beyond. Analysts presented these findings during the Gartner Application Innovation & Business Solutions Summit, which is taking place here through today.

As data becomes more and more integral to the business, CEOs have started to invite a new member to the C-suite: the chief data officer (CDO). But despite the increasing importance of data-driven everything, many CDOs fall behind expectations and have short tenures.

Click here to dive into where CDOs can create value, how they can measure it, and examples of qualitative and quantitative measurements that data analytics leaders are currently adopting ➡

How the Best Chief Data Officers Create Value Despite the rapidly increasing prominence of data and analytics functions, the majority of chief data officers (CDOs) fail to value and price the business outcomes created by their data and analytics capabilities. It comes as no surprise then that many CDOs fall behind expectations and have short te...

In the evolving landscape of software development, achieving high performance in the SDLC requires adapting to the Future of Work paradigm.

Key shifts we've seen include a move from waterfall to Agile development, embracing DevOps for continuous code release, prioritizing real-time feedback and analytics, transitioning from on-premises to the cloud, and focusing on data-driven decision-making.

But to position your team to compete in an ever-crowded space, it’s also about raising your “business influence."

Click here to read Chief Engineer Walter McAdams' latest blog, including 5 tips to keep in mind as you eye your team's next era of performance and impact ➡ https://sqagroup.com/5-ways-to-drive-sdlc-performance/

As we look ahead to 2026, the role and priorities of the CIO will start to shift significantly, with a greater focus on driving business strategy and developing revenue-generating products and services.

More than ever before, the CIO will be a catalyst for business transformation, helping their orgs harness data analytics and AI to inform strategic decisions while also ensuring the security of digital assets. The skill set required for CIOs will also continue to evolve, with leadership, adaptability, and a deep understanding of emerging technologies as table stakes.

Click here to read more about the evolving role of the CIO and what to expect in the coming years ➡

What the CIO role will look like in 2026 IT leaders see the top tech position flipping its priorities over the next three years, with business strategy, innovation, and orchestration in the spotlight and tech enablement being more of an advise and govern affair.

This summer Gallup released its State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report. The primary call to action? Change the way your people are managed. Gallup estimates that low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion, or 9% of GDP.

The best way to change the way your people are managed? Change your measurement strategy.

Click here to dive into other key takeaways from this report, along with 2 new workplace metrics, and 3 questions to consider ➡ https://sqagroup.com/better-management-starts-with-better-metrics/

A portfolio approach to digital transformation is taking hold as companies shift toward short-term projects that happen in parallel versus multi-year, large-scale projects. The portfolio approach works much like how an individual would invest in stocks to build a portfolio, taking risks in some areas and playing it safe in others.

Click below for 4 keys to success when taking this appraoch.

The portfolio approach to digital transformation: 4 keys to success Inspired by the world of finance, the idea of managing digital projects as a portfolio of IT investments is gaining acceptance among CIOs as it enables them to place several tech bets at once, allowing some bold, disruptive ideas to propel business growth.

Today, it’s no longer enough for leaders to just have a foundational understanding of data and advanced analytics. All leaders are expected to leverage data and analytics daily to power their teams, decisions, and focus areas.

Click here to read VP of Growth Strategy Carrie Majewski's latest blog diving into 3 ways to immediately propel your data maturity further. ➡ https://sqagroup.com/supercharge-data-momentum/

IT leaders today are continually faced with difficult choices around IT initiative prioritization. Evaluating these opportunities requires a deep understanding of business priorities.

Click here for 7 things CIOs should consider in evaluating new opportunities. ➡

7 project priority checks for overloaded IT agendas As organizations pursue digital transformation, it falls on CIOs to sift through and prioritize the work that needs to be done. Here, IT leaders discuss how they address this surfeit, evaluate initiatives, and make the difficult decisions to support company goals.

In today's ever-changing business landscape, harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence is not just a choice but a necessity, especially when it comes to workplace diversity and inclusivity.

Click here to learn about the benefits of leveraging data and AI in your HR strategies ➡

How Big Data and AI Can Foster More Inclusive Workspace? Big data and AI can help you understand and address the needs and preferences of your diverse workforce while fostering a culture in your workspace.