Why Executives Can No Longer Ignore Digitalization

In an era where technology is at the core of nearly every business strategy, we still too often see boards of directors and supervisory boards leaving IT-related decisions solely to the CIO. But is that still sustainable?

At Profi-Workers, we witness daily how companies struggle with the impact of digitalization and IT transformations. IT is no longer just a support function—it determines an organization’s continuity, innovation power, and competitive position. Yet, technology remains the elephant in the boardroom.

Why Executives Need Digital Knowledge

IT investments are substantial, but how often is there a truly critical evaluation of the business value they generate? Executives and board members are responsible for risks such as cyber threats, operational resilience, and compliance. However, IT is still too often seen as a technical issue rather than a strategic and business-critical matter.

This is becoming increasingly risky. New regulations, such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) in the financial sector, even hold companies financially accountable if they fail to manage their digital risks properly.

So, the question is not whether IT is a board-level issue, but rather how executives can take their role in this more seriously.

Asking the Right Questions About Digitalization

Executives don’t need to become IT experts, but they do need to ask the right questions:

✅ Are our IT investments aligned with our long-term strategy and competitive position?
✅ Are digital projects executed efficiently and do they truly add value?
✅ Do we have the right expertise to successfully implement complex digital transformations?
✅ Can we guarantee that digital risks, such as cyber threats, are well managed?

The more executives engage with these questions, the better they can set the right “tone at the top.” And international research shows that this is one of the key factors in determining whether digital transformations succeed or fail.

Digital Transformation is a Top-Down Responsibility

At Profi-Workers, we help companies find the right IT specialists who not only implement technology but also contribute to strategic decision-making. Because the future of organizations is determined by how well they embrace technology and digitalization.

The key question remains: can a boardroom without IT knowledge still fulfill its corporate governance responsibilities?

👉 What do you think? Is digitalization taken seriously enough at the executive level? Let us know in the comments!