Discover Performance

3 keys to maximizing the agility of your cloud ►

The cloud was supposed to lower your TCO—so why hasn’t it? Here’s how you really get the value out of your cloud implementation.

Q: What should a chief executive look for in a prospective CIO? ►

A: "The prime function of any C-level executive is to be a key member of the TEAM that steers the direction and success of the business. That role is first, while the functional organization management is secondary. “The fact that few CIOs perform in this capacity is indicative of the very large percentage of CIOs that do not have a seat at the big table, steering the company, but instead are the head of a functional organization, period. ...
 
Of the dozens of CIOs I have worked with, the most effective at driving—at least in a C-level role, and not the just the head of IT—are those that bring diverse experience of a multitude of industries and solutions. CEOs opt for a technology leader, not out of any innate desire to have someone from their industry (a myopic view), but because they see IT as a foreign language, at best, providing a service to the business. If they could, they would prefer a business leader that could bring IT capabilities as a partner to the business creating unique competitive business advantage, but that person is a rare bird.”

— Kirk Rheinlander, Strategic Execution Consultant, in the CIO Network LinkedIn group