Should an IT executive know how to do the work of their staff members?
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They soups have fundamental idea on the in’s and out, but I don’t think they need to have the same knowledge as their technical people.
No but they should know how to evaluate the effectiveness of their work.
This question reminds me of the old saying, people don’t quit bad jobs, they quit bad bosses. The question also seems to insinuate that for an IT executive to be a good boss the executive needs to know how to do the work of their team members. I my experience, this does not make a great boss. Technical competence in an IT executive is an important aspect of leadership, but it is not the only factor of a good leader.
Studies have shown that the benefit of having a competent boss is the largest positive influence of a team member’s job satisfaction and performance. But what does competency look like? Technical acumen or the ability to support the team member in their role to be successful?
There have been many instances of IT leaders that lead highly technical teams but do not have the same background as their team. Truly effective leaders add value by enabling things to happen, not necessarily by doing the work. Good leaders practice seeing the bigger picture, and leave mastering the details to their team.
Familiarity, yes, possibly the ability to cover in an emergency, but there is a slippery slope between being a resource for your team and micromanaging...
They need to have deep knowledge in some areas and a general understanding of others.