How to Find the Best Person for the Job

When it comes to adding staff, there’s little margin for error. Few CIOs have the time and budget to devote to a second round of recruiting if an initial hire doesn’t work out so it’s essential to select the right person … now. Of course, achieving this goal often is easier said than done. To…

Innovation and the CIO

CIOs must get the balance right between utility and innovation in order to secure influence in the future, according to new research from PA Consulting Group and Harvey Nash, a global professional recruitment consultancy and IT outsourcing service provider. The 2011 survey of over 2,500 CIOs and IT leaders reveals that CIOs are playing an…

How to Increase IT’s Value to the Business

Does scale matter? How much has the company grown since I started this job? How much does the company plan to grow in the future? What still works in the way I do my job if the company is much bigger? Which things about how I do my job don’t work if the company is…

The CIO’s Growing Role: IT and Innovation

As 2011 gets into high-gear, we are seeing the predicted IT spending increases come to pass; with companies often shifting their focus from cost-cutting initiatives to growth and innovation projects. Accompanying this spending increase is a shift in the role of the CIO towards an architect for business innovation. This increased, highly visible responsibility creates…

The 5 Key Reasons Why Initiatives Fail

Someone on Twitter recently asked me, “What are the 5 main reasons IT Service Management projects fail.” I really didn’t have to give it much thought. After 30 years practicing ITSM the reasons are pretty much top of mind. So I quickly rattled off the following: No plan Unrealistic expectations Skepticism Poor requirements Not doing…

6 Ways to Boost Business Innovation in IT

Would you describe your own team as creative? Do your employees help set industry trends, or do they just follow them? With everyone focused intently on the day-to-day aspects of their jobs, your staff simply may not be thinking about developing new ideas or recommendations. As a leader, you can change that by setting the…

Are You a Transformational CIO?

“Today, the IT infrastructure is the backbone and accelerator of a company’s business transformation,” explained Jean Cholka, CEO of the global IT services provider Freeborders. “Thereby, having the right leader in the IT organization in place is critical to a company’s success.” This transition in IT’s role was fueled by a number of converging storm…

All Roads Lead to Digital Disruption

As most leaders know, success is accomplished through people. Smart technology helps, but succeeding in today’s digital realm is a challenge that requires more than simply consuming more technology. Without smart, dedicated workers adopting a people-first strategy that serves as the main platform of an organization, all other attempts to create a thriving business—whether through…

Falling Into the Digital Divide

America is at risk of falling behind in the digital world. A new report from the Joan Ganz Cooney Center (the creators of Sesame Street), Rutgers University and New America notes that middle and low income families aren’t keeping up when it comes to computers, broadband, Wi-Fi and Internet access in the U.S. While 94…

The Hottest Job in IT Today

It’s hard to believe that the hottest job in America at one time wasblacksmith. Today, it’s data scientist, according to a growing number of sources, including job site Glassdoor. It recentlyreportedthat the annual median salary for data scientist positions is $116,840. Other studies have found that those with master’s degrees or doctorates sometimes pull down…