Should My IT Provider Share My Business Values?

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As a business, where do you invest your money? Is it in improving your product? Employee retention? Finding more affordable solutions?

How you spend your money not only shapes the trajectory of your company but reflects your values. What matters most to your company and its goals?

Some companies feel their values should also be reflected in the vendors they hire.

When looking for an IT provider, do values matter? For some businesses, yes! The alignment of values between a company and its IT provider can drive a successful partnership.

WEBIT Services has helped hundreds of clients develop and execute effective IT strategies for over 25 years.

By reading this article, you will learn the crucial role shared values play in the dynamic relationship between clients and IT providers.

What are Values?

Values, in essence, are the belief system that shapes how we perceive the world and what we hold dear. As a business, this may be as simple as “I will create an excellent customer experience” or something more complex (“I will improve my community”).

Your values represent what you are willing to invest in, even if the cost is not purely monetary. It may cost you time or comfort, but the reward is worth it.

For example, suppose a company’s goal of accomplishing a task. If cost-efficiency is paramount, it clearly expresses a particular value. You value fiscal responsibility and affordability above all else.

On the other hand, if that company values employee satisfaction, they may invest additional dollars in ensuring their employees have excellent tools to accomplish their tasks.

The ways businesses approach problems and solutions reflect their values.

The Relevance of Shared Values with IT Providers

Aligning values with your IT provider is more than a theoretical exercise. It's a practical step that aids in understanding your goals and ensures that your provider actively works towards helping you achieve them.

Return on Investment (ROI), often measured objectively in dollars, can also carry subjective dimensions. System uptime, employee satisfaction, and customer satisfaction are subjective values that can influence the broader objective measures of success.

For example, if a business and IT provider both value strategy and IT disaster prevention, they will have shared objectives and will likely find common ground in exploring solutions. The business and IT provider would both value investing in reliable backup solutions.

On the other hand, if the business is focused on disaster prevention but the IT provider is focused solely on hardware sales, they will likely run into conflict. The client will ask for reliable solutions, while the provider will focus on selling new computers and servers. Their goals may sometimes align (replacing EOL hardware can help prevent system failure), but they will often be at odds.

Some IT providers have experience in specific industries, which creates a familiarity with the industry’s everyday needs, struggles, goals, and values.

Finding an IT provider experienced in serving similar organizations is advantageous. This shared experience fosters an understanding of industry-specific goals, systems, and values and creates a smoother partnership.

Navigating Conversations and Building Relationships

Values are not static; they evolve through time and experience. For instance, perhaps a company began with the primary value of building profit. Over time, they realized that a positive customer experience reaped additional rewards, including profit growth.

Ideally, your IT provider will help you nurture these values and reach your value-driven goals through technology.

Open communication with your IT provider is crucial to understanding each other's values. This understanding forms the bedrock for a relationship that can flourish or strain based on the alignment or misalignment of values.

Challenges of Misaligned Values

Misaligned values can manifest in various ways, leading to disagreements on critical aspects:

  • IT Roadmap: Divergent opinions on the strategic IT direction for the business.
  • Cost Disputes: Conflicts over budget allocations and spending.
  • Asset Management: Disagreements on how IT assets should be managed.
  • Communication Styles: Varied approaches to communication can create friction.
  • Overall Values: Fundamental misalignments in core values.

Another pivotal consideration is how your business views IT – as a cost or potential profit center. This perspective influences decision-making and investment strategies.

If a company sees IT as a potential profit center, it is likely more willing to invest in IT tools to help with tasks, automation, employee experience, and customer interactions.

However, if technology is only viewed as a cost center, companies are less likely to see the value in IT investments, tools, or strategies.

If the former company is paired with a provider using technology to reach long-term business goals strategically, their values are aligned. This will likely be a successful partnership.

However, if this IT provider is paired with the latter company, they will likely find themselves in conflict due to mismatched values. This client would be a better match for an ala-cart style provider rather than a strategy-focused provider.

Identifying a Values-Driven IT Provider

How can you recognize a values-driven IT provider? There are five key indicators:

1. Community Engagement and Philanthropy

If your business values investing in its community, you may be looking for a similarly-minded IT provider. Ask potential providers if they actively contribute to the community through financial support, non-profit involvement, or volunteer initiatives.

2. Employee Ownership and Equity Opportunities

Perhaps your business values pouring into its employees and bringing them additional opportunities. Ask potential IT providers if they offer employee ownership or equity opportunities to give their employees a voice.

3. Non-Commissioned vCIO

If you value unbiased advice and strategic technology recommendations, ask potential IT providers if their Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) is commission-based. VCIOs under a commission structure are often more motivated to prioritize sales over strategic advice.

4. Employee Retention

Employee retention is a powerful indicator of a company’s culture and values. Focusing on promoting talent from within, reinvesting in employee training, and fostering overall growth shows an IT provider that values employee satisfaction.

5. Alignment with Personal Values

Examine your values as a company and ask potential IT providers how they feel about those values. Finding an IT provider that supports your business goals and aligns with your values creates a harmonious partnership.

Next Steps for Finding an IT Provider that Shares Your Values

Ultimately, the question arises – what is important to you, and does your chosen IT provider share those values? Prioritizing shared values can lead to a more fruitful and enduring partnership.

To find a values-driven IT provider, you can ask the following questions:

  1. How do you give back or invest in your community?
  2. Do you have an employee ownership or equity program?
  3. Are your vCIOs commission-based?
  4. What does your employee retention look like?
  5. Here are our company values; do yours align with ours?

The choice of an IT provider goes beyond technical capabilities. By seeking alignment, engaging in open conversations, and understanding values, businesses can forge partnerships that meet their IT needs and contribute to the company's success.

If your IT provider’s values do not align with yours, examine your existing partnership. Does it feel successful? Does your IT provider use technology to help you achieve your short-term and long-term business goals? Does your IT provider reduce your IT risk?

If you answer these questions, “Yes,” you are in an excellent IT partnership.

If your answer is “no” or “I’m not sure,” then it might be time to examine your partnership closely. It’s possible the partnership can be improved through communication and discussing expectations. You may need to consider a new partner if it cannot be improved.

For over 25 years, WEBIT Services has helped hundreds of satisfied customers.

If you are looking for a new IT provider or have questions about managed IT services, schedule a free 30-minute consultation with WEBIT services to see if it can help.

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