Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on investment (ROI) is a key metric used by CIOs to help quantify the potential success of an IT or business project. ROI metrics are also effective tools for CIOs making the business case for IT spending on a new project or technology. Find the latest return on investment information for CIOs, including news, tips and other resources, in this topic section.
Top Stories
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Tip
08 Apr 2024
How to create a proof of concept with 6 free templates
What is a proof of concept and how does it help an organization? We dive into the importance of writing a PoC and provide a list of free template examples to help get you started. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jul 2023
Replacing vs. maintaining legacy systems
Understanding issues such as which systems hinder organizational performance can help IT leaders decide which legacy systems to replace and which to maintain. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Feb 2024
value chain
A value chain is a concept describing the full chain of a business's activities in creating a product or service -- from initial receipt of materials through its delivery to market. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2023
business process outsourcing (BPO)
Business process outsourcing (BPO) is a business practice in which an organization contracts with an external service provider to perform an essential business function or task. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jul 2023
Replacing vs. maintaining legacy systems
Understanding issues such as which systems hinder organizational performance can help IT leaders decide which legacy systems to replace and which to maintain. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 May 2022
8 free IT strategic planning templates and examples for CIOs
As technology becomes a business differentiator, a well-thought-out IT strategy plan is more crucial than ever. These IT strategy templates help CIOs make IT a business driver. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Mar 2022
CIO (Chief Information Officer)
A chief information officer (CIO) is the corporate executive in charge of information technology (IT) strategy and implementation. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Dec 2021
Cloud TCO: How to calculate cloud total cost of ownership
Unsure what it'll cost to run your workloads in the cloud? Learn the parameters you need to define in order to get up and running and avoid costly surprises. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Nov 2021
TCO (total cost of ownership)
Total cost of ownership (TCO) is an estimation of the expenses associated with purchasing, deploying, using and retiring a product or piece of equipment. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2021
Strategies to successfully deploy AI in the enterprise
Deloitte executive director Beena Ammanath talks about ways businesses can see successful return on their investment and deployment of artificial intelligence. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Sep 2021
How to create a successful executive presentation
Do you have a big presentation to the C-suite coming up? Use these executive presentation tips to deliver an attention-getting presentation to keep execs engaged and interested. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Jul 2021
balanced scorecard
The balance scorecard (BSC) is a management system aimed at translating an organization's strategic goals into a set of organizational performance objectives that, in turn, are measured, monitored, and changed if necessary to ensure that an organizations strategic goals are met. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2021
What is the hidden cost of maintaining legacy systems?
One of the main factors when deciding whether to keep or replace legacy systems is determining the cost. Here we dive into five of the hidden costs CIOs should be aware of today. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
11 Jun 2021
Top 5 benefits of a new cybersecurity market model
Companies are struggling to identify the cybersecurity technology that would actually be useful for their use cases. It's time for a new market model around efficacy instead. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 May 2021
RPA vs. cognitive automation: What are the key differences?
CIOs are now relying on cognitive automation and RPA to improve business processes more than ever before. Here are the important distinctions between the two technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2021
Calculating cloud migration costs: What CIOs need to consider
As CIOs make the move to the cloud, they first must ensure they have the budget to do so. Here, we're diving into the pre-migration, migration and post-migration costs to consider. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
18 Feb 2021
Digital adoption a key success factor for organizations post-pandemic
Digital adoption platforms are slated to become a crucial aspect within organizations as they continue to undergo digital transformation to thrive in today's market. Here's why. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Feb 2021
7 IT cost optimization strategies for CIOs
We've compiled a list of seven IT cost optimization strategies CIOs can apply to any framework to help reduce costs within their organizations while still enabling business operations. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Feb 2021
Understanding the difference between RPA and AI
RPA and AI adoption are rapidly increasing, but there's still some confusion over the coevolving technologies. Here we dive into their capabilities and how they can work together. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jan 2021
How to calculate SASE return on investment and costs
SASE return on investment will vary for each organization, depending on use cases and architecture requirements. But the metrics used to determine ROI and cost factors are the same. Continue Reading
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Guide
29 Feb 2020
ITIL and ITSM best practices for process improvement
ITIL and ITSM best practices improve business processes by standardizing and optimizing the delivery of IT services. Learn more in this comprehensive guide for CIOs. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2020
How to overcome the limitations of AI
AI may not become the super-intelligent tool people envisioned, at least not in the near term. But that doesn't mean enterprises can't use AI in some valuable ways. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2019
AR headsets: 5 tips to get you started
Still in their adolescence, augmented reality headsets are poised for a growth spurt. Will you be ready? Here are some tips for a successful deployment. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Nov 2019
Town of Falmouth pursues automation innovation to save costs
One Massachusetts town's embrace of automation, virtualization and other technology innovation provides an example for other entities and IT leaders to follow. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Sep 2019
Edge computing use cases must be driven by business value
For Schneider Electric and many other large enterprises that take a look at edge computing projects, the main criterion for success is whether the technology delivers business value. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2019
Automation Anywhere's Microsoft pact indicative of hot RPA market
RPA vendor Automation Anywhere said it's poised to take full advantage of the burgeoning RPA market. Its recent deal with Microsoft is just one indication of RPA's popularity. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Jun 2019
currency
Currency is anything that is generally accepted to have value as a medium of exchange so that it can be traded for goods and services. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 May 2019
Andrew Ng's AI playbook for the enterprise: 6 must-dos
AI legend and online education pioneer Andrew Ng has developed an AI playbook for businesses. Here are six must-dos. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2019
Transformational leadership style inspires 'moonshot goals'
Entrepreneur extraordinaire Keith Krach talks about the network effect, turning competitors into partners and paying it forward in this third and final part of our Q&A. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2019
How to build a startup: 7 tips from Keith Krach
Entrepreneur Keith Krach recounts how he started Ariba, sharing a treasure trove of tips in part two of this three-part Q&A. Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
Scalable learning vs. scalable efficiency in the automation age
The right way to treat employees in the automation age is not by deploying scalable efficiency, but by offering scalable learning. The first requirement: enlightened leaders. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2019
5 reasons CIO career paths go south -- and how to protect yourself
Safeguard your CIO career path. Agiloft CEO Colin Earl details the top five reasons CIOs get the ax -- and how to avoid them. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Feb 2019
21st-century CIO job description puts CIOs in vortex of emerging tech
The ban against pursuing tech for tech's sake -- it's been lifted. CIOs need to dive into emerging tech to extract its business potential. Welcome to the new CIO job description. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jan 2019
Barclays Bank takes a crack at IBM's quantum computer
Quantum computing may one day explain the universe. Today, the biggest challenge for an early adopter is making the problem sufficiently simple to run on a quantum computer. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jan 2019
CIOs share their 2019 tech resolutions
We asked five CIOs to share their tech resolutions for the new year. Ambition is sky high. Projects include RPA, AI that can handle sensitive data, scaling the business and more. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2019
5 IT trends shaping 2019 CIO strategies
Tech executives sound off on the IT trends they see shaping CIO strategies in 2019. AI and cloud loom large, but the test for CIOs is not just technical. Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
Lottery.com eyeing blockchain for charity games to boost transparency
Online mobile lottery service Lottery.com wants to use blockchain as a service to bolster a new business initiative: expanding into games for charities. Read about the challenges and payoffs. Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2018
How to get more women leaders in tech: It's not just a numbers game
Women leaders in tech are still few and far between. The industry knows it's a problem, but fixing gender inequality in the top ranks won't be easy, according to a recent panel. Continue Reading
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Answer
28 Nov 2018
How can companies build a strategy for monetizing data?
To extract value from data, most companies will face people, process and technology challenges. Matt Maccaux explains the ins and outs of monetizing data. Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2018
Enterprise AI adoption on fire, but foundation lacking for sustainable AI
McKinsey surveyed thousands of executives on their AI projects to find out what was working and what wasn't. Here's the lowdown. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2018
What can CIOs expect from ITIL 4? More leadership advice, for one
ITIL 4 is scheduled for release in early 2019. ITIL expert David Ratcliffe discusses what's different about this ITIL update and why the guidance remains vitally relevant to CIOs. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2018
Gartner Symposium 2018: Digital business models shift IT priorities
With digital business models maturing, CIOs have shifted their IT and business priorities to make digitization projects successful -- and to get other company leaders on board. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2018
Benefits of ITSM: Use an ITSM portal as gateway to cloud services
Requiring users to access the cloud via an ITSM portal will reduce spending, explains Andy Sealock in part two of his tip on leveraging the benefits of ITSM in cloud services. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Sep 2018
ITSM in the cloud: Using ITSM best practices to optimize cloud usage
Cloud-based services can't be beat for their ease of use, but companies often experience some 'unhappy surprises' when the bill comes due, says Andy Sealock. ITSM in the cloud can help. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Sep 2018
IT service catalog
An IT service catalog is a list of technology resources and offerings available from the IT service provider within an organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Sep 2018
4 ITSM best practices for managing service vendors
CIOs must align IT strategy to business KPIs, and so should their service vendors. In this ITSM best practices tip, experts explain how to tie vendor services to business outcomes. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 May 2018
Blockchain as a service expected to entice CIOs to test waters
AWS' Blockchain Templates offering, along with a host of other big vendor blockchain products, will spur a 'tsunami of tests.' Blockchain adoption by business is another matter. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2018
Four CIO strategies for finding the business ROI in emerging tech
IT execs from Yamaha, Union Pacific, the city of Las Vegas and UL share their CIO strategies for deriving business benefit from emerging tech. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Sep 2017
For Airbnb, data democratization is a strategic advantage
Home-rental site Airbnb recognized the value of data from its start. Then it built tools and developed training to democratize data, turning employees into data scientists. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2017
How a triple bottom line approach benefits your company
Increasingly, consumers are demanding that companies create strong sustainability and social responsibility efforts. Here's what you need to know. Continue Reading
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Guide
16 Nov 2016
Key IT metrics: A CIO guide
As technology and the business evolve, so do IT metrics. In this Essential Guide, learn how to navigate KPIs, IT investment and cloud cost optimization techniques. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Feb 2016
8 free IT budget plan templates for CIOs
Creating a reliable IT budget plan is no cinch, especially in today's digital age. Here, we've rounded up free, customizable IT budget templates to help. Continue Reading
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Definition
26 Aug 2014
dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble, also referred to as the Internet bubble, refers to the period between 1995 and 2000 when investors pumped money into Internet-based startups in the hopes that these fledgling companies would soon turn a profit. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Aug 2014
Four pillars of PayPal's 'big bang' Agile transformation
PayPal's technology VP Kirsten Wolberg gives SearchCIO the facts, figures and philosophy behind a 'big bang' move to Agile that changed the way 510 cross-functional teams work. Included in the budget: $2 million to change out the furniture. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2013
Free cost-benefit analysis template examples for CIOs
Check out this collection of free cost-benefit analysis examples to determine, in a systematic way, which decision or project is the most beneficial to your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Sep 2012
Making a business case for data storage and backup
CIO Niel Nickolaisen lays out how he gets the business to invest in storage and backup technologies starting with a business case for the value of data. Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2012
Do CIOs care about gaining a competitive advantage?
Do CIOs care enough about gaining a competitive advantage—or is collegiality the secret of success in IT? Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2012
CIOs proving the value of technology investments
There's no easy way to prove the value of technology investments, but smart CIOs are finding new ones -- and smarter still, being proactive about it. Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2011
Outlook 2012: Monetizing IT
It's that time of year again, when we and everyone else pull out the crystal IT ball for Outlook 2012. Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2011
GM strategy for innovation and lowering risk should ring bell for CIOs
General Motors CFO Dan Ammann talks about GM's strategy for reducing risk and funding innovation. His remarks hold lessons for CIOs, too. Continue Reading
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Podcast
20 Sep 2011
Reaping the business benefits of cloud computing
A new book from The Open Group tells how to reap cloud computing's business benefits. Listen to a podcast with two contributors, and read an excerpt. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2010
Are innovation strategies back on CIO agendas?
After taking a backseat to cost-cutting during the recession, innovation strategies are back on business agendas. Is your IT innovation strategy in place? Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2010
Merck, Chevron and BP are touting a new IT management framework
Can a new IT management framework from the Innovation Value Institute help IT mature and deliver business value? Merck, Chevron and BP hope so. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Mar 2009
Cost reduction tips for your strategic sourcing contracts
CIOs should revisit their strategic sourcing contracts and work closely with their suppliers to analyze current spending and achieve maximum cost reductions. Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2006
The problem with "quickie" dashboards
Performance dashboards can prove tremendously useful, but they aren't a quick fix warns columnist Wayne Eckerson. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2006
A CIO's data warehouse -- 9 steps to success
A successful data warehousing initiative can generate revenue and cost savings. One IT expert shares his steps for restoring a data warehouse. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jun 2005
The new face of business intelligence: dashboards and scorecards
In the last two years, business intelligence (BI) has finally reached critical mass. It's recognized by business leaders as a vital tool for helping organizations achieve strategic objectives, optimize performance and improve decisions and plans. As a result, executives are increasing BI budgets to provide employees with timely and relevant information. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2005
Looking past the balance sheet
The marketing side of your company needs to measure value as well, but how do they measure the data for company reputation and customer loyalty? Continue Reading