The official CIO Talk Radio Blog

3 Ways of Rethinking IT to deliver more choice, faster, on a bigger scale

In conversation, Jim Fortner (VP of IT Development & Operations, Global Business Services, P&G), Gregory Simpson (CTO, GE), and John Dick (CIO, Western Union) all make it clear, IT is no longer an enabler, but a true business partner at their enterprises.  (See:  Rethinking IT to deliver Choice, Speed, and Scale)

"There is a new paradigm of leadership ... a real strong business orientation in IT staff folks with strong executive management skills, business skills, understand the process, so it is retooling the organization to readily step up to the challenge. ...business telling us we have such a tremendous opportunity to take on more scope and more work. They are looking for us to come back with more choices and strategies. (Jim Fortner, P&G)

Cloud computing is HOT! First, get IT plugged into the right cloud service providers who do IT cheaper but better than in-house. Then IT can sit down in its rightful seat at the management table and get down to business with the other big guys. Sounds sort of like the ultimate corporate plug ‘n play. If only things were that easy.

Cloud Computing Benefits are obvious.  Cloud computing companies can provide flexible, scalable infrastructure resources on demand, without the need for additional investment. This levels the playing field for mid and smaller companies, so they can be as dynamic as a Fortune 500 company.  A recent Info-Tech survey suggests that three quarters of IT leaders are first considering a private cloud, with one third already set on a private cloud.  Cloud computing leaders are currently debating whether public or private cloud will dominate the future.

Engineers, developers, project managers and other technical members within an IT organization are living repositories of the organization's technology, architecture, software, and processes. What people know and can do is just as important as their ability to manage. Some retain unique technical knowhow that would be difficult, if not impossible to replace. So how do you retain knowledge crucial to your organization's software development project management, for example? ...Information that may reside in the heads of a select few individuals?

Covering the length and breadth universe so to speak, we sought insights from 3 distinguished CIO’s, asking them to look at their agendas for the coming year. Each was from a different business vertical.  NASA, a government agency born out of the cold war competition with the old soviet Union, embodies our national aspirations. NASA has a thoughtful CIO in Linda Cureton, whose IT is charged with facilitating a grand mission. Ameristar Casinos has a strong CIO in Sheleen Quish, who heads both HR and IT, managing people, processes, and technology for an organization in the business of creating an experience for its guests. Guess? is a retail chain whose IT is headed by Mike Relich, a CIO on the cutting edge of an IT that embraces social media and mobility as communication and marketing tools.