Pay Up!: How CIOs Get Departments To Pay For Their Share Of IT

Everybody wants their IT services for free. When you become the CIO, you’ve got to find an answer to the ugly question of just who’s going to pay you for all of those fancy IT services that your department can provide. Sometimes there’s a single IT budget for the entire company that everyone draws from. … Read more

The Machines May Be Virtual, But The Security Problem Is Real

When you become CIO, you already know that IT security is going to be one of your biggest and least rewarding challenges. If you do a great job at it, then nobody will ever know and you’ll get no credit for it. If you do a poor job, then everyone will know and you’ll get … Read more

Message From The CIO: Send More Women!

Ok all you CIOs wannabes, guess what one of your first problems is going to be once you assume control of the IT department? No, not that innovation thing. Nor will it be finding new ways to cut costs. Somewhat amazingly considering that we are living in the enlightened 21st Century — you will need … Read more

Poisonous Snakes, Sharp Knives, And Angry Natives: How Much Risk Can You Handle?

Ok CIO wannabe, we’re right in the middle of a global financial crisis and your IT budget has gotten slashed so much it looks like Freddie Krueger has come back and had his way with it. What are you going to do about your spending on security programs: cut ’em, hold the line, or spend … Read more

Lab Rats Invade A CIO’s World

I work in the telecommunications field a lot and the gold standard of corporate R&D labs has always been Bell Labs. These guys have created amazing things that we all take for granted today: transistors, fiber optics, etc. Since most firms have no idea about what to do with their corporate research facilities, responsibility for … Read more

The Insider Threat: What CIOs Need To Know

When you think about someone trying to make off with your company’s private data, what comes to mind? Some wily Russian hacker who sneaks into your company’s network through the backdoor? Perhaps you need to update your thinking. A recent report from Cisco revealed that the real threat is coming from insiders. What’s a CIO … Read more

Who Should A CIO’s BFF Be: The CEO or The CFO?

The times they are changing. Let’s take a moment and have a talk about one of a CIO’s key survival skills: the ability to successfully negotiate office politics. Specifically, if you could only have one best friend, who should it be: the CEO or the CFO? Changes In The Workplace The workplace that a CIO … Read more

Can CIOs Drive Innovation & Boost Quality At The Same Time?

How are you at walking and chewing gum at the same time? It’s sorta a classic challenge – do two different things simultaneously and do them well. CIOs are facing the challenge today – cut costs and simultaneously use IT to make the business more competitive. How hard can that be? Say Hello To Six … Read more