Very important roles — the VIR (rather than VIP) list

  • 13 September 2022
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A Community post reminded me of something I once wrote on very important roles as an addition to VIP lists. Here’s an abridged extract:

This is nothing new; I was using one ten years ago (now 20 years ago). But VIR lists aren’t as common as they should be.

It's simple - you take what you do for VIPs and replicate it for those business roles that are critical to business operations.

How do you work out what they are (and who fills them)? Speak to your customers. These very important roles could be anywhere but, importantly, their IT might be critical to their role, and what they do in their role might be critical to business operations.

So where are your VIRs and are you giving them the support they need?


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I think it is important that IT stays closely linked to business initiatives to see where IT can help enable the business. The only way you do that is with a relationship with VIPs and VIRs. That last several places I worked there was a lack of focus on core business objectives and therefore a lack of progress in the business. Once I started engaging with VIRs instead of VIPs and finding out even minor little details to simplify or automate tasks or improve workforce tasks life got better.

It also helps with prioritization and budgeting as you will find support for key initiatives when there is more demand for a specific platform.

Userlevel 7
Badge +10

I think it is important that IT stays closely linked to business initiatives to see where IT can help enable the business. The only way you do that is with a relationship with VIPs and VIRs. That last several places I worked there was a lack of focus on core business objectives and therefore a lack of progress in the business. Once I started engaging with VIRs instead of VIPs and finding out even minor little details to simplify or automate tasks or improve workforce tasks life got better.

It also helps with prioritization and budgeting as you will find support for key initiatives when there is more demand for a specific platform.

@PatrickMurphy  it’s nice to see VIRs in action and making a difference :)

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