In this week's edition of news for IT pros, articles that showcase why today's CIOs must do more than keep the lights on.
Transform the business, or lose relevance
In a recent article for Fortune, IT and Management professor Tom Davenport said that, among his students, the CIO role has been steadily losing its luster. He said, instead, his students are interested in "being digital entrepreneurs and innovators. They don’t want to focus on keeping the lights on. They want to work with emerging technologies and transform business."
This perception among the next generation of IT leaders underscores ways in which the CIO role must evolve as digital technology reshapes businesses of the future. This is further supported by a recent IDC study, which suggests that, “CIOs who stay operational will find themselves further marginalized over the next three years. For these executives to stay relevant, they must shift their focus to transformation and innovation and incorporating those innovations into their stable infrastructures.”
Stepping into a transformational role takes what Dan Roberts, CEO and president of Ouelette & Associates Consulting, refers to in InformationWeek as the five Cs of success: confidence, competence, commitment, consistency, and courage. He highlights five reasons courage is more important than ever in a fast-moving business and IT landscape.
It also takes impeccable time management and focus in an era of push notifications and meeting overload. Don't miss our mini-series on Productivity Hacks from IT leaders, running on Sundays.
More news for CIOs
How to move beyond digital transformation [Information Age]
CMO vs. CIO – Is there room for both in the boardroom? [TechWeek]
