--- title: Barriers To Innovation in IT Departments | Hartman Executive Advisors description: "Gain technology leadership and IT strategy insights at Hartman Executive Advisors. Read our blog, 'Barriers To Innovation: Is Your IT Department Holding Back?'." image: https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/two-IT-professionals-working-together-to-make-their-department-innovative.jpg --- ![](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/two-IT-professionals-working-together-to-make-their-department-innovative.jpg) ![a business person thinking about how he can innovate his IT department](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/a-business-person-thinking-about-how-he-can-innovate-his-IT-department.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=a-business-person-thinking-about-how-he-can-innovate-his-IT-department.jpg) ![a business person thinking about how he can innovate his IT department](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/a-business-person-thinking-about-how-he-can-innovate-his-IT-department.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=a-business-person-thinking-about-how-he-can-innovate-his-IT-department.jpg) **Innovation.** It’s more than just new ideas; it’s having the structure and freedom to build them out, and the willingness to risk that putting them into action will bring meaningful, positive change to the company, its customers and the industry. So, **would you call your IT department innovative?** ## Two Significant Barriers To Innovation If you do not believe your IT department to be innovative and thriving, do you know what’s holding them back? It could be one, or both, of two significant issues: ### Time [The CIO Executive Council](https://www.cio.com/article/3142322/how-it-leaders-can-define-and-drive-it-innovation.html?utm_campaign=HEI+December+2016) found that time devoted to day-to-day tasks is the most significant impediment IT departments face when trying to innovate. Whether this is surprising to you or not, the fact is that 63 percent of IT leaders are up against this challenge. Time is a precious commodity, and we know from experience that many IT departments spend it on tasks that can be easily outsourced or approached differently to free up time for innovative thinking. ### Culture Of Innovation ![an it department where employees are innovative and rewarded for innovative ideas](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/an-it-department-where-employees-are-innovative-and-rewarded-for-innovative-ideas.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=an-it-department-where-employees-are-innovative-and-rewarded-for-innovative-ideas.jpg) ![an it department where employees are innovative and rewarded for innovative ideas](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/an-it-department-where-employees-are-innovative-and-rewarded-for-innovative-ideas.jpg?width=300&height=200&name=an-it-department-where-employees-are-innovative-and-rewarded-for-innovative-ideas.jpg) Are your IT leaders encouraged to look outside their department for new and better ways to grow profitability? Does leadership reward out-of-the-box thinking? Are IT and the business on the same page with respect to the need and desire for innovation? These are hallmarks of an innovative culture. Getting to this point won’t happen overnight, but it will make a significant difference in how IT is viewed within your organization and can have an impact on your top and bottom line. ## Speak To The Experienced Business Strategy Consultants Are you ready to energize your IT team and promote a culture of innovation? If so, please [contact us](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/contact/) directly, so we can discuss the best approach for your organization. Our [IT strategy assessments](https://hartmanadvisors.com/it-advisory-consulting/assessment/) will help your IT department reach its full potential. ## Related Articles [![](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Neobank-blog-image.webp) ](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/blog/neobanks-and-banking-as-a-service-the-community-bank-opportunity) [Financial Services Blogs Archives](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/blog/tag/financial-services-blogs-archives) [All Blogs Archives](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/blog/tag/all-blogs-archives) ### [Neobanks And Banking As A Service: The Community Bank Opportunity](https://insights.hartmanadvisors.com/blog/neobanks-and-banking-as-a-service-the-community-bank-opportunity) The term “neo” is used to describe something that is new, modern, revived or modified.  Neobanks are [FinTechs](https://hartmanadvisors.com/industries/financial-services/fintech-consulting-services/) that challenge the traditional banking platform. 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