Monthly Archives: December 2013

Integrated CIO Dashboards

Posted on by

CIOs often complain that they simply do not have the right data to make decisions – either they do not trust the data or it simply does not exist. For the CIO, data is everything. It should be easy to collect, easy to report and easy to use.

With the advent of BI (Business Intelligence), many Executives are now demanding dashboards to present information in an easy to understand way to help make swift (and justified) decisions.

However, when considering IT, the CIOs typically focus on IT Services related dashboards and information that tend to focus on infrastructure and operations. This only provides part of the answer which is very technical and focused on “lights on” related metrics.

There is a need for an “integrated CIO dashboard” which represents information that relates to ALL IT processes and resources (i.e. encompassing people, process and technology).

The key to delivering an integrated dashboard for CIOs (and perhaps, for CxOs) is to combine metrics, perspectives and data covering all aspects of IT. The goal is to create a single system of record for all IT processes  that combines information that transcends the four primary pillars of IT together: strategy, design, transition and operations.

Only by taking this approach can CIOs gain immediate access to information to drive decisions and track the performance of their IT. Additionally, CIOs can view how well IT services are performing against business commitments as well as measure IT costs – all from a single dashboard – connecting all activities / portfolios (e.g. projects/programmes, financials, application, services, etc.) across the enterprise rather than focusing in on any particular silo.

This is the heart of what IT Transformation should really be about … So … To coin a phrase

“Stop Talking About Transformation. Do It!”

The Changing Role of the CIO: Benefits Derived

Posted on by

What happens when CIOs build on a foundation of transformation? The changes can be startling, especially when IT is freed up to spend less time on IT and more time on developing relationships and fostering innovation.

“CIOs have to embrace consumer technology rather than restricting it,” said Red Hat CIO Lee Congdon. “You have to find a way to allow business leaders to take advantage of technology.” That not only fosters innovation, but it ensures that the problem won’t get worse, “when they do it without you. Give them the ownership and help them figure out how to make it secure.”

“IT for IT’s sake doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot,” said NYSE-Euronext’s Cassell in a panel on roles and innovation. “Gee whiz doesn’t bring value to the business. You have to
be as knowledgeable on the business side as you are on IT.”

Past CIO of Electronic Arts and McAfee Mark Tonnesen concurred. “You’ve got to get out of your chair and spend time with people in other parts of the company. Until I came
forward, other executives were reluctant to share their thinking. Once I said that IT was ‘open for business,’ we got buy-in almost immediately.”

As an incentive, Tonnesen keeps a budget item reserved for interesting projects. “I can fund something, get it going for a couple of months, and see how well it works.” Congdon
concurs with this strategy. “If you put up the money for something exciting, people who have the passion will find the time to support it. If you can get your business peers excited, they’ll sell the project in their organization.”

(Extracted from CIO Magazine, The Future of IT: From Chaos to Service Automation, Oct 2013)

 

Happy New Year – 2014!

Posted on by

Dear esteemed Reader, Colleague, Friend,

I hope you are well. I would like to wish you, your loved ones and communities all the happiness, joy, success and peace in 2014.

For those who may have lost anyone, I hope 2014 brings healing, renewal and new hope …

Let’s all strive to make 2014 a year to remember for positive and respectful reasons.

Keep in mind those who are less fortunate than many of us … Give charity … And remember, charity is not only about money/cash … It can even be something as simple as a smile 🙂

Happy New Year!

Best regards,
Salim

HappyNewYear2014