Not so long ago, CIOs could develop a technology roadmap for the next 3-5 years. Not anymore. Tech leaders now have to adapt on the fly, and accommodate their plans to the constant disruption all around us. Roadmaps can no longer be mere planning based on the present technical landscape – they must be created in order to allow for quick responses, as well as to enable proactive measures when the unexpected occurs in the…  MORE

The path from being an IT worker to a C-level executive might seem fairly straightforward: Once you’ve led some digital transformation initiatives, improved customer outcomes, enhanced employee experiences, and developed your organization’s AI strategies, you’re ready to move up. But those experiences don’t necessarily make you qualified for a CIO or other C-level technology role. While leading transformation initiatives is essential, a C-level role involves much more responsibility. For one, you are now fully accountable…  MORE

We’ve written more than once in this space how technology leaders now have a seat at the executive table. They’re no longer tacticians – they’re strategists that help drive corporate growth. But it’s not redundant to revisit this idea once again. That’s because CIOs and CTOs are often not properly prepared for this extended role. To be effective, they must comprehend key business concepts and fundamentals. For example, CEOs now expect tech leaders to aid…  MORE

Enterprises continually make investments to maintain competitive advantage today, as well as to set up them for success in the future. And these days, artificial intelligence (AI) is the main focus for those enormous investments. These include an array of AI tools such as intelligent copilots, automation agents, workflow assistants, and others that can deliver company-wide efficiency gains. No one could tell a CEO that this is the wrong financial or strategic decision for the…  MORE

We live in a world where robots built for perfection make occasional mistakes. So do humans within IT departments. No matter how much they learn new technologies and become aligned with the C Suite, certain initiatives still fall short. The positive outlook, however, is that both CTOs and frontline IT personnel can use past failures to improve tomorrow’s projects. It’s not as if technology leaders have been unaware of this problem. Not so long ago,…  MORE

CIOs understand that transformation is essential for company growth and longevity. In fact, transformation provides the guiding light for nearly every initiative they lead. Change, whether it is on the micro or macro level, has the potential to increase efficiencies, improve customer satisfaction, and foster competitive advantage. But transformation doesn’t exist in a vacuum – every action sparks a reaction, and the results aren’t always positive. Transformation can come at an unforeseen cost. For example,…  MORE

Since the early part of the 21st century, the cloud has transformed how corporations use technology to achieve their business goals. While this distributed and ever-evolving model fosters more growth opportunities, it also increases IT complexity and the burden on management. And that can hinder innovation. Leaders must learn how to reap the rewards of the cloud while simultaneously simplifying how IT works. But simplifying can be challenging. By its very nature, the cloud increases…  MORE

Dogma doesn’t only exist in politics and religion, it also pervades the world of IT management practices. Many “best practices” have been carried out for so long, leaders assume that they are ironclad, always the best strategy for a given initiative. But as in other areas of society, “the way it’s always been done” in IT departments must be questioned and re-examined. Especially when those time-honored practices actually hinder productivity rather than improving performance inherit…  MORE