The Silent Culture Killer

Technology decisions made without business input create capabilities nobody asked for, while business decisions made without tech input create impossible expectations. Both scenarios destroying trust and creating lasting organizational damage.

Author

Eric Brown
March 13, 2025

In partnership with

Chicago River with multiple raised drawbridges breaking the connection between sides of the city, surrounded by tall office buildings.

Like drawbridges that prevent passage across a river, organizational silos create artificial barriers that block essential communication between technical and business teams.

The quickest way to damage your organization's culture isn't through poor communication or misaligned values (although those are ways it can be done)…it's through tech decisions made in isolation. When IT and business leaders operate in separate worlds, the fallout extends far beyond failed projects.

Tech decisions made without business input often deliver capabilities nobody asked for. Business decisions made without tech input create impossible expectations. Both scenarios breed frustration and distrust.

This disconnect manifests in three damaging ways:

  • Strategic misalignment where tech investments don't support business goals.

  • Implementation failures where systems don't solve actual user problems.

  • Growing resentment between departments that should be partners.

Breaking down these silos requires deliberate action:

  1. Establish shared accountability for outcomes, not just deliverables.

  2. Create cross-functional teams with decision-making authority.

  3. Measure success through business metrics, not technical milestones.

  4. Develop shared language that bridges the technical-business divide.

  5. Rotate team members across departments to build empathy.

The gap between technology and business leadership isn't just an organizational issue but a competitive liability. Organizations that bridge this divide don't just deliver better technology; they build stronger cultures where innovation thrives naturally.

The Bottom Line

In successful organizations, there are no "technology decisions"…there are only business decisions with technology components.

Making this mindset shift doesn't require massive reorganization, just a commitment to breaking down the artificial barriers between those who understand the problems and those who build the solutions.

If you found this post helpful, consider sharing it with another executive grappling with AI, technology, and data. If you want to explore AI and other Technology strategies, grab some time on my calendar, and let's chat.

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