August 10th, 2004
Next-Generation CIOs
The McKinsey Quarterly: An article explains that in order to get real business value from IT investments CIOs need to adopt a new style of leadership in which they direct their attention away from IT supply–the delivery of IT resources and services to support business functions–and direct it toward managing IT demand–helping the business use its technology to innovate. To wear both the hats of a supply-oriented cost cutter and a demand-driven innovator isn’t easy. But CIOs who have a clear financial understanding of IT costs and potential investments, drive changes in business accountability, get business executives involved in technology-investment decisions, and explain new technologies to business unit leaders, will increasingly find themselves becoming business leaders who can swiftly transition between roles.
