Digital maturity metaphor
Digital tools are an essential part of everyday business life. In fact, they enabled a large number of organisations to ensure business continuity during the health crisis. These tools are both vectors and generators of transformation in the workplace.
At Arctus, we often use metaphors to explain how digital tools work. This year we're using a metaphor illustrated by communicating spaces. The image evokes the interface between different universes that allow both exchange and access to personalised domains.
To compare organisations in terms of their digital maturity and enable them to benchmark themselves, we propose 2 descriptive axes of these transformations:
The level of functional richness of the devices deployed is traditionally monitored by the Observatory. In this 2023 edition, functional richness is represented by the multiplication of connected universes (puzzle piece).
3 levels of functional richness :
The isolated universe represents organisations that have not deployed any system, or have only deployed very limited functionality. Materialised by a single piece of jigsaw, the technical set-up is limited and does not yet constitute an internal digital ecosystem that takes account of the needs of the people who make up the organisation.
The two connected universes correspond to organisations that have deployed a partial technical system. This allows the first collaborative and social uses to be expressed.
The 3 interconnected universes represent organisations that have deployed a complete system (information/collaboration/social).
The level of use of the devices deployed is an essential criterion for qualifying the digital maturity of organisations and their level of digital transformation. This enables us to measure the success of equipment projects.
Having a tool is one thing, making good use of it is quite another. Digital transformation cannot take place without the commitment of people, and in particular that of directors and managers. It is their involvement that gives people the means to appropriate the use of digital tools.
The level of use is reflected in the development and diversity of interactions between universes.
3 levels of use :
The universe containing a single element of interaction concerns organisations with a low level of public commitment and very little internal digital usage. This reflects a low level of digital engagement among the organisation's members.
The universe containing a few elements of interaction corresponds to organisations where only part of the population is involved and where the first uses are born. The first collaborative and social uses are being deployed. It's an encouraging start.
The universe containing several interaction elements of different natures represents organisations where employees and managers are involved and where uses are developing. The transformation is effective. As a result, collaborative and social uses are well deployed.
For each of these 2 axes, we have defined 9 stages of maturity, the main characteristics of which are set out below.
(These are the profiles presented at the end of the questionnaire.)
Beginner : a simple device with a very low level of usage
Features
It takes the form of a single world with little interaction. The digital commitment of the members of your organisation is low and very few digital uses are being deployed. The technical equipment on offer is limited and you don't have an internal digital ecosystem that takes account of the needs of the people who make up the organisation. It seems difficult to see new uses, particularly collaborative uses, developing within this system. This may be due to a late awareness of the challenges of digital transformation, a reluctant environment and/or a lack of support for change.
Pro leverssandstone
Systemic action is needed to remedy the situation. Digital transformation cannot develop without a minimum level of commitment and therefore confidence in the opportunities offered by digital technology. In order to offer a digital working experience and deploy collaborative and social uses, it is necessary to identify the obstacles and levers of digital transformation within the organisation before considering an overhaul of the system and diversifying the tools and functions available to employees. Otherwise, there is a risk that shadow IT teams looking elsewhere for what they can't find in-house.
Forward-looking : fairly well-developed system and very low level of use
Features
It takes the form of two connected universes, each made up of a single interaction element of a single variety (a line). The foundation of the technical system can enable the first collaborative and social uses to be expressed. However, the digital commitment of the members of your organisation is low and very few digital uses are being deployed. This may be due to a reluctant environment, the deployment of other tools at the same time and a lack of change management support to encourage users to get started.
Levers for progress
Systemic action is needed to remedy the situation. Digital transformation cannot take root without a minimum level of commitment and therefore confidence in the opportunities offered by digital technology. Encourage management and help them to develop their digital commitment. At the same time, carry out change management actions with the organisation's employees. Once the first uses have been established, you will be able to roll out a little more functionality within your internal web system.
Technophile : complete technical system and very low level of usage
Features
It takes the form of three connected universes, each made up of a single interaction element of a single variety (a line). The proposed technical system is advanced, but the digital commitment of the members of your organisation is weak and very few digital uses are being deployed. This may be due to a lack of awareness of the challenges of digital transformation, a lack of sponsorship and use of other tools, as well as a reluctant environment and/or a lack of support for change.
Levers for progress
Systemic action is needed to remedy the situation. Digital transformation cannot take root without a minimum level of commitment on the part of managers and employees, and therefore confidence in the opportunities offered by digital technology. At this stage, it is necessary to carry out an audit of digital practices, make a sponsor aware of the digital challenges and support the change.
Clever: simple device with established uses
Features
It is materialised by a single universe made up of a few interaction elements of different kinds (line and square). Part of your organisation's population is involved in digital technology and the first collaborative and social uses are being deployed on a rather limited technical device. You don't yet have an internal digital ecosystem that takes into account all the needs of the people who make up the organisation. This is an encouraging start, and the transformation is likely to take off if the associated change management is developed and if the functionalities and tools made available to employees are diversified.
Levers for progress
Beware: because they are young, new uses may remain sensitive to their environment (difficult social, organisational or financial context within the company, too little support for change, etc.) and withdraw in unfavourable contexts. They will need all the more support.
Efficient : fairly well-developed system with established uses
Features
It is materialised by two connected universes, each composed of a few interaction elements of a different nature (line and square). Part of your organisation's population is digitally engaged, and the first collaborative and social uses are being deployed on an internal digital device that allows established uses to be expressed. The transformation is underway and should be confirmed if the associated change management is developed and if the functionalities and tools made available to employees continue to diversify.
Levers for progress
Uses may remain sensitive to their environment (difficult social, organisational or financial context within the company, too little support for change, etc.) and withdraw in unfavourable contexts. They will need all the more support. Once the commitment of employees and managers is there, you will be able to deploy ever more functionalities within your Digital Workplace by constantly supporting change.
Avant-garde : a complete system with established uses
Features
It takes the form of three connected universes, each made up of a few interaction elements of a different nature (line and square). Part of your organisation's population has embraced digital technology and the first collaborative and social uses are being deployed on a mature technical system that includes rich, up-to-date content and collaborative and social functions. The transformation is underway, but more support is needed to enable the tools available to be used more widely.
Levers for progress
Multiply the first experiments to spread them throughout the organisation. Beware: because they are new, practices can remain sensitive to their environment (difficult social, organisational or financial context within the company, too little support for change, etc.) and withdraw in unfavourable contexts. They will need all the more support. Change management also enables all the company's staff to become involved, which is an essential step towards the development of new uses.
Atypical : a simple device with advanced features
Features
It is materialised by a single universe, but one that abounds in interactions: it is made up of several interaction elements of different varieties (lines and squares). The internal digital transformation is effective. Collaborative and social uses are well deployed. The digital transformation is all the more successful because the context is favourable (growth, profitability, performance, etc.) and the culture conducive to innovation is particularly fertile. However, the technical system on offer is limited and does not yet offer an internal digital ecosystem that takes into account all the needs of the people who make up the organisation.
Levers for progress
To offer a digital work experience and deploy collaborative and social uses, it is necessary to diversify the tools and functions available to employees. Otherwise, there is a risk that shadow IT teams looking elsewhere for what they can't find in-house.
Seasoned : fairly well-developed system with advanced uses
Features
It takes the form of two connected universes. Interactions within these universes are developed: they are made up of several interaction elements of different varieties (lines and squares). The internal digital transformation is effective. Collaborative and social uses are well deployed. The digital transformation is all the more successful because the environment is favourable (growth, profitability, performance, etc.) and the culture conducive to innovation is particularly prosperous. The technical system proposed enables the expression of collaborative and social uses.
Levers for progress
To offer a complete digital work experience, it is necessary to enhance the tools available to employees. A little more functionality needs to be deployed within the Digital Workplace to satisfy user demand for more services. This development will enable us to move up to Champion level.
Champion : a complete system with advanced features
Features
It is materialised by three connected universes, where interactions abound: they are made up of several interaction elements of different collaborative and social natures (lines and squares). The transformation is effective. Managers and employees are committed, and collaborative and social uses are well deployed. The digital transformation is all the more successful because the environment is favourable (growth, profitability, performance, etc.) and the culture conducive to innovation is particularly prosperous. The technical system proposed is advanced and includes rich, up-to-date content, social functions, collaborative spaces, a search engine, practical tools... in short, an internal digital ecosystem that takes into account the needs of all the populations that make up the organisation.
Levers for progress
Regularly monitor the system to ensure that it remains in step with the information and collaboration needs of the internal populations and with their commitment to digital transformation. The next stage will involve integrating innovative functionalities based on automatic data analysis, enabling the user experience to be adapted in real time.
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