Imperatives for CIOs
Focus on value
Historically, IT was largely an order taker. Its mission was fulfilling those orders by implementing or building technology to match supplied specifications. Its purview began and ended with those specifications. Whether what was requested was good for customers or whether it advanced a larger organizational strategy wasn’t a consideration.
It’s time to flip the script. Today, business and technology are inseparable. Technology opens doors to new business possibilities—and closes doors just as easily. The relationship with customers is profoundly influenced—if not entirely shaped—by technology.
So instead of asking yourself, “Am I delivering to spec?”, you need to ask, “Am I creating value for my customers or for the business?”. When the chief financial officer or the head of Human Resources asks you to implement a new software solution, for example, value must be at the top of your list, not “What will it take to deliver?”. Is the software appropriate for the business as a whole? Are some of the requested features needed to generate value? If not, you must step up—that’s where strong leaders come in.
