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Welcome to a special episode of the IT/OT Insider Podcast! For the first time, David and Willem, co-authors of this blog, are interviewing each other. Both seasoned professionals in industrial digitalization, they delve into their backgrounds, journeys in IT and OT, and their recent joint presentation at the Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit Europe.
This conference, organized by IT Revolution, featured many influential books such as The Phoenix Project, Team Topologies, Sooner Safer Happier, and the DevOps Handbook. Introduced by Gene Kim, who acknowledged the IT-OT divide in critical infrastructure, their presentation is now available on the conference website. Access requires creating a free trial account, or you can listen to this podcast for the full discussion.
The Paradox of Digital Solutions
David and Willem discussed the paradox of digital solutions: despite their promising potential, implementation often falters due to diverse and incompatible systems across manufacturing sites. “Billions have been poured into digitization, yet the average shop floor whispers tales of the 1980s,” they noted. This disparity between investment and outcome underscores the difficulty in scaling digital projects beyond pilot ‘lighthouse’ plants.
A Personal Note
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The Socio-Technical Ecosystem
David and Willem emphasized that IT/OT integration is not merely a technical challenge but a socio-technical endeavor involving people, processes, and entrenched cultural norms. The disparity between IT and OT spans systems and cultures, with IT’s rapid innovation cycle clashing with OT’s emphasis on reliability and gradual evolution.
Challenges of Top-Down Directives
They critiqued the practice of enforcing IT/OT convergence from the top down, a method that often underestimates the complex dynamics of integration. “Converging two organizations is not a management decision,” they explained, stressing that these initiatives must consider socio-technical aspects where both IT and OT bring unique strengths and cultural perspectives.
Anti-Patterns in Convergence
Highlighting pitfalls in current convergence practices, they discussed how mismanaged efforts can lead to increased divergence. “When done wrong, efforts to converge will quickly lead to quite the opposite: divergence,” they observed. Organizational comfort zones and resistance to change can intensify friction and mistrust between IT and OT departments.
Our Vision for Collaboration
Looking ahead, David and Willem advocate for a collaborative culture where IT and OT not only coexist but actively cooperate, leveraging each other’s strengths. They propose bridging the existing differences to create systems and processes that are IT-enhanced yet respect the operational imperatives of OT.
Moving Toward Effective Integration
The discussion concludes with a call to action for organizations to rethink their approach to IT/OT integration. They emphasize the need for adaptive strategies that acknowledge the complexities of modern industrial environments and promote balanced integration of technology and operational practice. By focusing on collaborative approaches and understanding each domain’s unique contributions, companies can more effectively navigate the challenges of digital transformation in manufacturing.