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Las Vegas, Nev., December 7, 2022

Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference 2022 Las Vegas: Day 2 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from Gartner IT Infrastructure, Operations & Cloud Strategies Conference, taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. You can read the highlights from Day 1 here.

On Day 2 from the conference, we are highlighting how diversity and inclusion can drive innovation, the future of cloud and how to attract and retain IT talent. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

Key Announcements

Keynote: Collective Unhiding: Diversity of Thought Is Critical for Business Innovation and Talent Retention

Presented by Michelle Bazargan, Senior Director, Advisory, Gartner

When people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together, their unique thoughts pave a path for innovation. In this session, Michelle Bazargan, Senior Director, Advisory at Gartner, shared steps to drive diversity of thought that can foster business differentiation, talent engagement and retention.

Key Takeaways

  • “The human deal has totally changed! Work from home is an actual demand for radical flexibility and inclusion.”

  • “Over 82% of people desire to work for organizations that support their personal growth and creativity, and yet 45% of employees believe their organization actually sees all of who they are as a person.”

  • “The human deal has shifted in order to be creative, engaged and innovative people who want to be heard, be seen and display unique expression.”

  • There are four steps that can help leaders improve diversity of thought and innovation within their organization: become a conscious leader; elevate, extend and expand diversity of thought; create an actionable diversity and inclusion plan; and develop and execute a one-page strategic plan.

  • “Organizations that focus on unhiding the full potential of people by harnessing employees’ different viewpoints and opinions will set the stage for market differentiation and business growth.”

The Future of Cloud: Prepare for 2027

Presented by David Smith, Distinguished VP Analyst, Gartner

As cloud computing evolves from technology enabler to business disruptor, IT leaders must understand their organization’s business strategy first, and then seek opportunities to leverage new and emerging cloud capabilities to accelerate that strategy. In this session, David Smith, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, discussed Gartner’s top predictions regarding cloud computing in 2027 and how they drive the cloud value proposition forward.

Key Takeaways

  • There are four phases to cloud computing:
    • Phase 1: Cloud as Technology Disruptor
    • Phase 2: Cloud as Capability Enabler
    • Phase 3: Cloud as Innovation Facilitator
    • Phase 4: Cloud as Business Disruptor  

  • “Cloud drivers include cloud variations (such as hybrid IT and multicloud environments), which are now at the center of where the cloud hype currently is.” 

  • In 2026, cloud spending is forecasted to exceed $1 trillion worldwide, exceeding all other IT markets. 

  • “As infrastructure becomes more abstracted and invisible (delivered in a serverless way), I&O will focus less on deploying, provisioning, upgrading and backing up environments and instead focus on infrastructure and application resiliency.” 

  • “Drive cloud strategies that include architecture and governance by leading a cloud center of excellence (CCoE) and encouraging fusion teams.”

  • “Optimize spend by leveraging multiple cost optimization techniques and negotiating discounts with hyperscalers, to optimize spend.”

  • “Support users and applications everywhere by redesigning for network inversion and by implementing DevSecOps and ‘policy as code’ practices.”

Mission (Nearly) Impossible: Attracting and Retaining IT Talent

Presented by Mark Margevicius, VP Analyst, Gartner

Finding and retaining staff is a significant challenge for infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders. Salary remains important, but employees are demanding more than money to ensure their loyalty. In this session, Mark Margevicius, VP Analyst at Gartner, shared strategies that help infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders attract and retain employees.

Key Takeaways

  • “Nearly 1 in 3 of your employees are looking to move on. This level of attrition is costly and disruptive, and we need to be better as I&O leaders to stem the tide of exodus.”

  • “Employees are also victims of the velocity of change. Too much, too soon, too frequently. I&O leaders must do their best to control the velocity so that their people can adapt and function effectively.”

  • “I&O leaders need to better understand attrition and attraction.”

  • “Establish a strategy that recognizes the requirements of factors that attract and cause employees to leave to allow I&O leaders to optimize their tactics in finding and retaining key employees.”

  • “An attractive employment value proposition (EVP) allows I&O leaders to present the best an organization has to offer to prospective and current employees.”

  • “Focus on the human element, whereby employee needs are prioritized over the needs of the organization, creating an environment that is desirable, attractive and welcoming.”

  • Through 2026, I&O organizations that fail to meet the nonmonetary needs of employees will experience a 30% to 40% increased attrition rate among staff compared with 2020-2021 levels.

  • “Work with HR leadership to address I&O talent attraction and retention. Together with HR reevaluate traditional management approaches, their relevance today, and what impact they have on employees.”

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) delivers actionable, objective insight to executives and their teams. Our expert guidance and tools enable faster, smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities. To learn more, visit gartner.com.

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