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The Talent Gap No One Planned For: A Growing Risk in Technology Management

By Tim Lybrook, Managing Partner at AOTMP®; Timothy Colwell, Executive Vice President at AOTMP®

The Challenge

As technology environments grow more complex, the skills required to manage them effectively are becoming harder to find. Many organizations face a widening gap between the capabilities they need and the talent they have.

This talent gap represents one of the most underestimated risks in technology management today.

Why This Is Hard

Technology management expertise sits at the intersection of technical knowledge, financial acumen, operational discipline, and governance. Few roles develop all of these skills organically.

Compounding the issue:

  • Institutional knowledge walks out the door
  • Automation reduces hands-on learning opportunities
  • Training focuses on tools, not management practices
  • Succession planning is often overlooked

The result is fragile programs dependent on a small number of individuals.

The Opportunity

The talent gap creates an opportunity to rethink how technology management capability is built and sustained. Organizations that invest in standardized practices, documented processes, and continuous learning reduce dependency on individual expertise.

A disciplined approach enables:

  • Faster onboarding
  • Greater resilience
  • Consistent performance
  • Scalable operations

What Leading Organizations Do Differently

Organizations addressing the talent gap:

  • Define roles based on outcomes, not job titles
  • Standardize processes to reduce tribal knowledge
  • Invest in skills development aligned to best practices
  • Build teams, not heroes

They manage capability as intentionally as they manage technology.

AOTMP Perspective

Sustainable technology management requires more than tools and vendors—it requires people equipped to manage complexity. Organizations that anchor talent development in standards and best practices are better positioned to adapt, scale, and succeed.

Interested in learning how your peers tackle this topic? Become a Professional Member today (it’s FREE to join!)

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This post is sponsored by Sakon and Bearstone.

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About Sakon

Sakon is the Telecom Cloud — a governed architecture that brings clarity, control, and automation to global enterprise telecom and mobility operations. As a pioneer in telecom lifecycle management, Sakon created the industry’s first unified system of record and continues to lead with data-governed solutions that power real-time visibility, intelligent automation, and modernization across network, wireless, and financial systems. Built for outcomes, Sakon helps CIOs, CFOs, and IT leaders stabilize platforms like ServiceNow, Coupa, and SAP, reduce risk, and drive transformation. Beyond technology, Sakon supports global connectivity through its teams and Kids Connect Global, making telecom smarter, simpler, and more equitable. Learn more at www.sakon.com.

About Bearstone

Bearstone is a telecom vendor governance firm founded by Bill Henrichs, Former Head of Telecommunications at Simon Property Group. Managing telecom for a 200+ site portfolio, Bill saw what most CIOs learn: invoices routinely carry unauthorized charges — services billed after disconnect, rates outside contracted terms — that no one is validating line by line. He built Bearstone to close that gap.

Bearstone delivers BearGuard — a managed governance service that validates invoices against contracted terms, surfaces unauthorized charges and variance, and holds carriers accountable for correction. Where TEM platforms stop at reporting, BearGuard begins.

Headquartered in Noblesville, Indiana, Bearstone serves multi-site enterprises — retail, hospitality, and distribution — with 200+ locations or $2M+ in annual telecom spend.

Learn more at www.BearstoneLLC.com/ExecutiveBrief  

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