Thursday, July 22
Leading the IT function of an organization is often a tightrope act between important strategic initiatives and equally important tactical actions. The CIO leads the organization’s IT strategy and ensures that back office operations are optimally supported.
Each year, we produce a CIO Symposium that seeks to offer education to IT execs, focusing on the strategic side of the equation. Content is developed with our team of volunteer CIOs and IT executives along with a survey of attendees. As we’re working through this year’s content, I found it interesting to look at what’s foremost in CIOs minds right now. Here are the top 10 business issues, in no particular order, that IT execs are working on right now.
Google Enterprise and Cloud Computing Opportunities
- As these services mature, when is the right time to seriously consider switching away from the classic Outlook and what are the implementation risks?
Social Media
- What’s the value to the organization, how to set policies and procedures that encourage creativity but maintain the organization’s data security?
The Non-IT Executives View of IT
- Ensuring IT is “at the table” with line executives during planning and not just as an afterthought at implementation
Future Technologies and the Business Impact
- CIOs have to be careful when deploying leading edge solutions, not only for the risk factory, but also for the longevity and adaptability of the solution
Delivering Top Line Growth and Bottom Line Results
- Ensuring IT has a strong impact in growth and profitability of the company
Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Issues that must be dealt with effectively, year-in and year-out
Strategic Communications and Leadership
- Improved communication with one’s senior team, particularly for large, long-term projects
Developing an i-Worker Strategy
- Integrating and incorporating personal technology, such as iPads, iPhones, Droids, etc., into business operations
Open Source Opportunities
- Developing a strategy to evaluate, select, implement and manage open source solutions
IT Investments in a rapidly Changing Technology Environment
- How does the CIO make investment decisions that need to be both quick, secure and have long-term value in the light of the speed with which technology changes
It’s also interesting that a couple of issues don’t seem to have made the cut, so to speak. There’s little to no interest among our advisors for content around talent development/acquisition or creative sourcing opportunities (e.g. on-shoring and off-shoring). It’s most likely the state of the economy for the past couple of years, not to mention the current uncertainty, that’s driving this lack of interest.
Understanding the CIOs strategic mindset can be valuable for those companies selling into IT organizations. Knowing how to position your solution to solve these types of problems goes a long way to winning the business.
Posted by:Brad Nellis