Be the Business
CIOs in the New Era of IT
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- $48.99
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- $48.99
Publisher Description
Remember the '70s? Way back then, IT was a mainframe that sat in some room and only a few people had a key. Flash forward a decade, and IT was a limited set of systems irrelevant to the vast majority of employees and customers. But today, all of the sudden, technology belongs to everyone. Because of the suddenness of this revolution in technology adoption, most IT organizations have not had enough time to evolve into a "comfortable integration" with the rest of the company. This lack of comfortable integration has led to confusion over who is truly accountable for the return on technology investments, how much influence IT leaders should have over a company's business strategy, and whether CEOs need to hire Chief Digital Officers onto their senior leadership teams. Through interviews with dozens of CIOs, Heller has created a snapshot of what CIOs are doing to lead IT in a climate where technology belongs to everyone. She addresses how CIOs are changing their operating models, their approaches to talent development, and their assessment of the new IT provider marketplace. Most importantly, Heller defines the top ten skills and behaviors that CIOs will need to develop if they are going to be successful in an ever changing landscape. As a master storyteller, Heller incorporates philosophy, humor, and pragmatic advice into a book that both informs and entertains.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Heller, president of Heller Search Associates, an executive recruiting firm specializing in information technology (IT), astutely examines ongoing changes in the role of chief information officers (CIOs) and the current challenges they face. She states that IT has moved from the sidelines to "the heart of every business," creating a host of new problems, including rogue non-IT employees who buy or build their own equipment and believe they can do IT's job better than the IT department. She also argues that IT should help define business strategy, not just enable it. To illustrate her points and bring in new ideas, Heller interviews the CIOs of major corporations, including Rhonda Gass of Stanley Black & Decker, Eash Sundaram of JetBlue, and Bruce Hoffmeister of Marriott International. Using her recruitment experience, Heller clearly explains the skill sets that will be required of up-and-coming CIOs. Topics such as quantifying IT, managing products, and increasing pace without sacrificing quality or security round out this enlightening work. Heller thoroughly explores the many changes and challenges that technology executives face and enumerates steps to success. Her book is essential reading for every CIO and CEO who wants to harness the power of IT.