InsightaaS: Michael Krigsman — well-known IT expert and author of the widely-read Beyond IT Failure blog on ZDNet — has published a piecen entitled “CIO strategy workshop: Intel’s IT leadership and transformation pyramid” that should be on the ‘to read’ list of IT leaders. It divides IT activity into three tiers – development of programs and service delivery, contribution to business value and transformation – and discusses the specific conditions and attributes associated with each. The post holds that the fundamental “reason to exist” for IT is wrapped in meeting day-to-day needs, and should aim at achieving operational excellence. Once that goal is met, IT earns the “right to influence” – to partner with business to define and deliver IT-based solutions to business problems. If that objective is met, IT can ascend to the top of the pyramid, contributing meaningfully to business transformation. Through this process, Krigsman urges IT management to focus on three ways to increase value: understanding ‘customer’ (often, internal customer) needs, engaging with the business to create ability to do joint discovery and problem solving, and capitalizing on “repeatable and flawless performance” to “earn a seat at the [executive strategy] table.”
The days of pure infrastructure IT, in which the CIO is responsible for little more than feeds and speeds, are ending. The path of modern CIO success requires meeting expectations from the business while reducing costs and finding ways to drive innovation. Because these goals can appear mutually exclusive, accomplishing all three together is a significant CIO challenge.
During a CxOTalk conversation with three senior IT leaders at Intel, we discussed their model for transforming IT into a genuine strategic partner with the business.
In advisory sessions with CIOs and their direct reports, IT transformation is one of the critical themes that arises most often. The significant challenge exists because developing a strategic relationship between IT and the business is a multi-faceted effort that demands change and adaptation on both sides…
Read the entire post: http://www.zdnet.com/cio-strategy-workshop-intels-it-leadership-and-transformation-pyramid-7000029568/
[…] point of view on subjects that we consider important. In May, we reviewed a Krigsman post on CIO strategy, and in early July, we featured another Krigsman post entitled “Is ‘marketing’ ready for […]