Each month, through our partnership with Harvard Business Review, we refresh our resource library with five new HBR articles we believe CIOs and IT leaders will value highly. Check out the curated pieces below, available to readers through the end of the month.

How to tell if a prospective employer shares your values 

Working for an employer or organization that doesn’t align with your values can be difficult. During the interview process, it can be tricky to navigate a conversation that will let you in on a company’s core values. Many of us feel dissatisfied at work from time to time, but misaligned values can be crushing. Download this report from senior leadership coach Kristi Hedges to get advice on how to not only identify what your core values are but also to see if a prospective company conflicts with what’s most important to you. 

Download: How to tell if a prospective employer shares your values 

The essential components of digital transformation 

Embarking on a digital transformation journey without proper planning will likely lead to failure. A clear vision should be mapped out to make sure the transformation will be effective. True digital transformation doesn’t involve a simple switch out of new technologies for old or going on a hiring spree for data scientists or trying to mirror what other big-name enterprises are doing. The ultimate goal should be to become a data-driven organization, ensuring that every aspect of the company is influenced by data-driven insights rather than humans. Download this report to discover ​​five components that are needed to execute digital transformation successfully.

Download: The essential components of digital transformation

Have we forgotten how to small talk? 

Two years into the pandemic, many of us haven’t returned to the office full-time. And maybe we won't ever. But when and if we do, will we even remember how to have small talk? Everyone’s personal journey during the pandemic varied drastically. If you’re in your 50s with pre-existing conditions, your interactions and behaviors were likely different than those of a young, healthy college student. And we may find it harder to connect based on those experiences. Increased reliance on emails and virtual meetings have made it easy to skip small talk and get straight to the work. Read this report to learn (or re-learn) how to approach conversations with coworkers and gauge their willingness to open up about the past couple of years. No matter what, there is a way to find some middle ground and casual conversations.

Download: Have we forgotten how to small talk?

How to have tough conversations about returning to the office 

Some of us are more eager to return to work and a semblance of pre-pandemic life than others. Engaging in conversations with your team members and bosses before your return to the office allows everyone to get on the same page and could be really helpful for company morale. The author of this report, team effectiveness advisor Liane Davey, presents several pitfalls to watch out for and guidance for creating return-to-work plans with your team members. Download to learn more.

Download: How to have tough conversations about returning to the office

Have we taken agile too far? 

There’s no denying that agile is a powerful process for product development, but former Amazon executives Colin Bryar and Bill Carr argue that organizations are using it to avoid careful planning and preparation. Instead, they say, organizations should consider combining agile with a method developed by the e-commerce giant in 2004 – “working backwards.” This process prioritizes careful planning; rather than diving into developing a plausible product, teams should fully realize a vision of a proposed product – going as far as writing a press release for its launch – even if they currently lack the capabilities to make it. In this article, Bryar and Carr examine agile’s faults and convey strategies to make the method work better for businesses. 

Download: Have we taken agile too far?

Also read:

Maintaining momentum on digital transformation 

CIOs have led the acceleration of digital transformation at a pace that was unthinkable pre-pandemic. Now, IT leaders have a powerful role to play in rethinking the nature of work, enabling hybrid teams to thrive, and setting a new precedent for digital innovation across their organizations. This new research from Harvard Business Review Analytic Services identifies four focus areas for CIOs and IT leaders as they work toward enabling greater flexibility, resilience, and momentum for digital transformation. From reimagining work to building digital acumen across the enterprise to creating more agile operating models, discover what leading CIOs say they’re prioritizing. Download this report to learn what’s required for leading IT in the year ahead. 

Download: Maintaining momentum on digital transformation