|
This is my favorite subject, the answer should be so clear but things are never that simple!!
We all know that IT is a means to an end but it is now an essential component of every business. Although costs and timescales have decreased, most IT investments are still financially significant and need to last several years. In today's fast-moving world this is a relatively long-term investment and it should be considered strategically.
It is undoubtedly true that technology-enabled processes are more critical to some businesses than others but that can easily change as businesses evolve and/or transform. Those who neglect their IT today may find themselves significantly disadvantaged tomorrow.
My view is that if a firm does not see IT as strategic, it either does not have a strategic business vision or it does not understand how IT can support that vision. Clearly both situations are challenges for CIOs. It is possible that there is a strategic business vision but it has not been clearly articulated. CIOs can help with this. The fact is that many business folk can't think strategically and CIOs can make a valuable contribution often with surprising allies.
Every CIO should certainly be able to develop an IT strategy which supports the vision. If there really is no business vision .... there probably is no strategic IT role and most CIOs would need a very good reason to stay on board.... waiting for the CEO slot could be good enough!
|
