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March 09, 2012 09 Mar'12
The love-hate nature of unified communications

A unified communications strategy where workers are empowered to make decisions comes up against management's need to control.
March 03, 2012 03 Mar'12
Security woes and a different kind of Net threat

We're feeling a little vulnerable this week. Maybe it's because our cache of tech bits is a little heavy on security issues.
February 28, 2012 28 Feb'12
Data loss statistics: Emerging culprits

Social networking, cloud computing and mobile technology create business opportunities. But data loss statistics show these advances create risks too.
February 24, 2012 24 Feb'12
Silence on business analytics speaks volumes

The next time your CIO pals clam up about business analytics, watch out. They're on to something. You should be too.
February 24, 2012 24 Feb'12
No need to search, they know what you want

Tidbits of news and analysis from the week that was, including another manipulation of big data, three steps to becoming the CIO you know you are and one mobile device that might give you headaches.
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February 21, 2012 21 Feb'12
Mission-critical systems taking on dual roles

As CIOs take on new roles, they are finding new uses for mission-critical systems -- and that in turn is making their role more business-critical.
February 15, 2012 15 Feb'12
Is technology leadership training lacking?

A lack of technology leadership training specific to the CIO position leaves the up-and-comers fending for themselves.
February 14, 2012 14 Feb'12
No honor-student bumper stickers for Steve Jobs

A roundup of items you might have missed from around the Web, including Steve Jobs' high school GPA and a possible storm over cloud privacy in the EU.
February 09, 2012 09 Feb'12
Days are dwindling for successful Windows 7 migration

If you've been hitting the snooze button on Windows 7 migration, it's time to wake up -- you're already late.
February 08, 2012 08 Feb'12
2012 Global IT Forecast

TechTarget asked 2,642 IT professionals and business analysts around the world for their IT forecasts for 2012. The direction of IT budgets and the technologies getting attention may surprise.
February 07, 2012 07 Feb'12
Big data is dead? Long live analytics apps?

The view of BI as an enterprise-wide system similar to ERP is giving way to a more tactical, "disaggregated" approach based on analytics apps.
February 01, 2012 01 Feb'12
Who's the 'insider' security campaigns target?

Can CIOs learn anything from a security campaign launched by the military more than 60 years ago?
January 31, 2012 31 Jan'12
Shared services model puts focus on external customer

For Owens Corning CIO David Johns, a shared services model is key to a low-cost, high-value IT and business services delivery strategy.
January 31, 2012 31 Jan'12
Shared services are the next generation of IT

Last week I wrote about the transformation of banking services into products. This week I want to discuss different types of services--shared services. One of the first technology news stories I ...
January 23, 2012 23 Jan'12
The CIO and the extended enterprise

The CIO role is stretching further into the outer limits of the "extended enterprise."
January 19, 2012 19 Jan'12
CIOs: Should your next IT hire be a consumer advocate?

How IT shops are changing and whom CIOs need to hire are big topics in the age of cloud and mobility. Should consumer advocates be on the list?
January 12, 2012 12 Jan'12
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.
January 05, 2012 05 Jan'12
Rosy outlook for services broker model may have thorns

The IT services-broker model might be good for your business, but one CIO cautions against letting the label define your role.
January 05, 2012 05 Jan'12
Re-evaluating endpoint security tools

Has technology advanced to the point that some endpoint security tools -- and the staff needed to support them -- will go away?
December 23, 2011 23 Dec'11
Overtime pay limit could put CIOs in a tough spot

A bill limiting overtime pay for IT workers is one more example of politicians putting corporate interests ahead of individual workers, opponents say.
December 21, 2011 21 Dec'11
'IT as a services broker' model will carry beyond 2012

IT leaders are positioning themselves as facilitators or IT services brokers rather than as the managers and mainframe minders of yore.
December 16, 2011 16 Dec'11
CIOs have to be passionate and in fighting trim

To be executive material for the CIO job these days, you'll need more than a well-cut suit.
December 15, 2011 15 Dec'11
Can you trust your KPI scorecard?

Mark Twain is attributed with the saying, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." Any CIO faced with a meaningless key performance indicator (KPI) scorecard ...
December 13, 2011 13 Dec'11
CIO's change management strategy gives left and right brain their due

Managing change can be the hardest part of IT's job. One CIO has a strategy to manage change that hinges on using both hemispheres of the brain.
December 13, 2011 13 Dec'11
Application portals for managing mobile devices no joke

CIOs are turning to application portals to meet mobile needs while protecting corporate IT policies.
December 12, 2011 12 Dec'11
Getting a grip on shadow IT in the age of self-service technology

Shadow IT should be a serious concern for all CIOs in an age of self-service technology. Here's how to get a grip on it.
December 08, 2011 08 Dec'11
Software laden with technical debt heading for a crash

Enterprise apps are carrying millions of dollars in technical debt, one study says. CIOs need to zero in on the mistakes that could level their companies.
November 18, 2011 18 Nov'11
Two IT gurus face off on value of enterprise architecture frameworks

Who says enterprise architecture frameworks are worse than useless? Vivek Kundra, that's who. The former CIO of the United States made a blistering case against enterprise architecture in his ...
November 17, 2011 17 Nov'11
SaaS solutions with a vertical slant

A growing segment of SaaS solutions targets industry-specific needs and mission-critical business functions.
November 04, 2011 04 Nov'11
Are you in danger of losing your Gen Xers?

We have been exploring how CIOs need to approach millennials in the workplace -- especially how members of that generation interact with technology. Indeed, millennials get the credit for cutting ...
October 12, 2011 12 Oct'11
AT&T builds an innovation ecosystem on four levels

AT&T CIO Thaddeus Arroyo has built an innovation ecosystem that operates on four levels and where managing innovation is about continuous improvement.
October 06, 2011 06 Oct'11
How Kraft is transforming the meaning of work in a digital enterprise

Kraft Foods' push to become a more virtual, digital enterprise is driven by savings on hard costs and a lot of marketing know-how.
September 28, 2011 28 Sep'11
New green IT technology for data center cooling

One option in data center cooling allows servers to be immersed in liquid, potentially reducing cooling energy by 90%.
September 27, 2011 27 Sep'11
GE's journey from waterfall to Agile practices

General Electric Co. turned to Agile practices to revamp software development in its Energy division. Now Agile is making its way across the company.
September 08, 2011 08 Sep'11
ITIL chief architect: How to build an IT Service Management strategy

Choosing the right IT services to deliver is the foundation of a winning IT Service Management strategy. ITIL chief architect Sharon Taylor explains.
August 17, 2011 17 Aug'11
Contingency plan should be part of desktop virtualization strategy

Companies that already have installed virtual desktops are considered trailblazers even now, and the technology wasn't fully baked back in 2008 when Dustin Fennell, CIO at Scottsdale Community ...
July 13, 2011 13 Jul'11
Three tech trends shaping the future IT organization and the CIO role

Cloud computing is just one of three technologies shaping the IT organization of the future and the role of the CIO.
July 12, 2011 12 Jul'11
The IT organization of the future: An enterprise within an enterprise

The IT organization of the future is shifting to become not only a business but also a part of an integrated business services organization.
June 27, 2011 27 Jun'11
Cost and content of social media policies vary widely by industry

Setting social media policies is a tricky and potentially costly process that varies widely based on an industry's regulatory requirements.
June 15, 2011 15 Jun'11
The IT roles needed for the IT organization of the future

IT's status quo will be toppled by the need for speed and tech-savvy employees. Here's what's vital for operating the IT organization of the future.
June 09, 2011 09 Jun'11
CIO, CEO of New York Life RPS tackle IT organization transformation

New York Life Retirement Plan Services' CIO and CEO discuss the changing role of the IT organization, and why social media is topping their agenda.
June 01, 2011 01 Jun'11
Ensuring growth through outsourcing services and cloud computing

PURE, a small insurance provider, is fueling growth on the back of outsourcing services and cloud computing, and with a clear vision of IT innovation.
May 31, 2011 31 May'11
Sentiment analysis turns social media into customer intelligence

Sentiment analysis tools are creating a kind of customer intelligence that online marketers are finding beats traditional market research.
May 25, 2011 25 May'11
A Wells Fargo roadmap to sidestep technology integration risks

Learn how an air space analysis system helped Wells Fargo CIOs avoid technology integration disasters during the merger with Wachovia.
May 24, 2011 24 May'11
Wells Fargo and Wachovia: The technology integration of two giants

Post-Wells Fargo and Wachovia merger, the CIOs offer a look at a technology integration strategy driven by the need to convert 70 million customers.
March 30, 2011 30 Mar'11
The CIO's dilemma? Disruptive innovation vs. performance improvement

CIOs focused on continuously improving their IT products and services might want to heed the lessons of now-defunct market leaders who got upended by disruptive innovation.
March 08, 2011 08 Mar'11
Cloud brokers emerge to sort out the chaos of cloud services

Faced with a chaotic mix of cloud services, IT execs now must sort through a crowd of cloud brokers that claim to minimize risks and improve interoperability.
January 05, 2011 05 Jan'11
Is the CIO job a young person's game -- and what's considered young?

When should a CIO on the job market start lying about his or her age? Or, to put a finer point on the question, hiding one's age? For one of the headhunters I consulted on a story this week about ...
December 22, 2010 22 Dec'10
Six questions for building an effective outsourcing strategy

Knowing what not to outsource is not always as obvious as it seems, according to sourcing experts. Here are six questions to help you build an effective outsourcing strategy.
December 14, 2010 14 Dec'10
Agile project management approaches for on-time and on-budget delivery

Pick an agile project management path based on scope, schedule or budget to set project boundaries and keep release dates on track.
December 10, 2010 10 Dec'10
Asset inventory sheds light on lack of virtual machine management

When one of Mark Bowker’s clients went to do an IT asset inventory, they couldn’t count how many virtual machines they had … because they couldn’t see them. Bowker, an analyst with Enterprise ...
November 17, 2010 17 Nov'10
How to select an enterprise collaboration platform (hold on tight)

Enterprise collaboration platforms aim to add a social layer to work apps. This story, the second of two about such platforms, offers a market overview and vendor selection advice.
November 16, 2010 16 Nov'10
With new enterprise collaboration platforms, 'social' means business

Forget about pushing people to use wikis and blogs. The rush is on to build enterprise collaboration platforms that pull social networking into every workstation.
November 03, 2010 03 Nov'10
Business process transformation hinges on a flexible management model

Business process transformation succeeds best in IT organizations emphasizing collaboration and real-time analysis. Learn how IT can bring transformation to the lines of business.
October 13, 2010 13 Oct'10
A COO pushes IT innovation by making it about business value

At the Forrester CIO Forum, a health care COO tells CIOs how he is using IT innovation to transform the business. The keys? BIACs, COEs and focusing on the bottom line.
October 06, 2010 06 Oct'10
A burst of business continuity, disaster recovery planning

Explosives maker Austin Powder played with virtualization, and an idea for its business continuity and disaster recovery planning ignited: Make HQ a hot site for remote offices.
September 30, 2010 30 Sep'10
Business process automation for the business' sake

CIOs like Ed Bell caution that business process automation success doesn't necessarily hail from the process of automation or the BPM tool, but rather from an understanding of the desired business outcome.
September 01, 2010 01 Sep'10
Public vs. private cloud computing: Which fits your enterprise needs?

Public and private cloud computing have penetrated enterprises, forcing IT to develop a plan for managing two distinct service-delivery models.
September 01, 2010 01 Sep'10
The fundamentals of launching an IT service catalog

The IT service catalog is a linchpin of ITSM, but is hard to create and manage. Here an expert advises where to begin, what to avoid and why CIOs should make a catalog a priority.
August 11, 2010 11 Aug'10
Free sample gap analysis templates: Software, security, architecture

Learn how other organizations tackle gap analysis, from software projects to IT portfolio assessments, in this list of sample gap analysis templates.
August 06, 2010 06 Aug'10
What's data fungibility got to do with delivering business insight?

What's data fungibility have to do with delivering business insight? No, really, I'm asking. According to Burton Group analyst Lyn Robison, one reason CIOs are struggling to deliver business ...
August 04, 2010 04 Aug'10
Corporate business services: Repurpose to reap value and flexibility

CIOs are taking a hybrid approach to the creation of IT and corporate business services, repurposing existing technology and adding new service delivery methods.
August 03, 2010 03 Aug'10
How CIOs are tackling IT business services creation

CIOs are in a prime position to shape new IT business services and shepherd the enterprise into new markets.
July 22, 2010 22 Jul'10
Why you need a formal data governance program, and how to get started

Formal data governance programs are still the exception rather than the rule. Learn why your organization needs one, plus five preconditions necessary to ensure success.
July 08, 2010 08 Jul'10
IT chargeback: A fundamental part of cloud computing takes shape

IT chargeback is being put to the test by cloud computing. Which metrics can be used to charge business units for IaaS, PaaS and SaaS?
July 07, 2010 07 Jul'10
Pros and cons of using enterprise master data management with BI

Enterprise master data management is a big task. Some CIOs are finding quick wins by starting MDM within their business intelligence efforts. For others? It's a no-win.
July 01, 2010 01 Jul'10
Agile best practices can combine waterfall and Scrum

Agile projects can mingle Scrum and waterfall approaches, but proceed with caution. Program managers share agile best practices and pitfalls.
June 16, 2010 16 Jun'10
Business service development: Lessons learned from the frontlines

There is no clear-cut path for IT to follow when it comes to business service development. CIOs and experts share their dos and don'ts.
May 24, 2010 24 May'10
CIO weekly wrap-up: Applications in the cloud, SharePoint installation

I'm still recovering from last night's LOST series finale. I thought it really fit with the themes of the show, but I know a lot of people weren't happy with the outcome. Your thoughts? Besides ...
May 13, 2010 13 May'10
Business continuity plans must address massive air travel shutdown

Before the dust settles from an erupting volcano in Iceland, business continuity managers need to take a close look at their business continuity plans, starting with their supply chain.
April 27, 2010 27 Apr'10
Gartner rates the Big Four business intelligence vendors

Gartner Inc. rates IBM's, Microsoft's, Oracle's and SAP's capabilities as business intelligence vendors, from BI platform functions to strategy.
April 14, 2010 14 Apr'10
Communication with IT project stakeholders is key to success

How well do you know your IT project stakeholders? A better relationship with your stakeholders can vastly improve project success rates and overall IT/business communications.
March 25, 2010 25 Mar'10
The importance of communication in IT innovation

I recently was asked to participate in a panel discussion about the importance of communication in IT innovation at the Olin Innovation Lab, an annual event at the Olin College of Engineering in ...
March 11, 2010 11 Mar'10
IT infrastructure outsourcing, multisourcing boosted by ITIL framework

IT infrastructure outsourcing and multisourcing benefit when enterprise and vendor have a strong IT Infrastructure Library framework. Learn how to align IT outsourcing and ITIL.
March 10, 2010 10 Mar'10
Balanced scorecard author talks agile business and risk management

Robert Kaplan, author of the balanced scorecard, talks about agile business, risk management and predictive analysis in this Q&A.
March 03, 2010 03 Mar'10
First open source, ITIL-aligned IT change management tool coming soon

The open source community has a new addition: an enterprise-level, ITIL-aligned change management tool. Recently unveiled at the Pink Elephant IT Service Management Conference & Expo, ...
March 03, 2010 03 Mar'10
Innovation strategies: How Chevron drives ingenuity

Should CIOs have innovation strategies? We talk with Chevron's innovation specialist on how the energy giant discovers ingenuity and develops a corporate creative process.
February 24, 2010 24 Feb'10
How IT gap analysis can be the first step to ITIL success

Performing an IT gap analysis can help your IT shop pinpoint gaps in its service delivery as a starting point in using the ITIL framework. Learn the eight questions to ask.
February 17, 2010 17 Feb'10
Proving the value of a business continuity plan (before disaster hits)

How do you educate the business on the value of a business continuity plan before disaster strikes? Linking risks to business performance is key.
February 03, 2010 03 Feb'10
Project management office helps CIO navigate rough financial waters

How did CIO Sharon Gietl help The Doe Run Co. navigate budget cuts and layoffs? With a tiny PMO that is prioritizing projects across the enterprise.
January 27, 2010 27 Jan'10
Vendor contract management key to cutting costs through renegotiation

Enterprises are finding ways to use vendor contract management as a means to cut costs by renegotiating contracts down to the maintenance-clause and business-unit levels.
January 26, 2010 26 Jan'10
CIO best practices: A self-assessment guide for top IT professionals

Some CIO best practices held steady in the recession, while others have shifted. Test if you've kept up with these quizzes in our self-assessment guide for top IT professionals.
January 20, 2010 20 Jan'10
The road to agile IT runs through IT services management and PPM

Agile IT can be realized with IT services management best practices and project portfolio management, but IT leaders need to clean house first.
January 05, 2010 05 Jan'10
Information security budget closest thing to recessionproof in 2010

Information security budgets in enterprise IT organizations will remain robust in 2010 compared with other IT spending areas. Learn more about budgeting for IT security.
December 08, 2009 08 Dec'09
Vendor evaluation criteria and guidelines

The vendor evaluation process can be very complex and time consuming. Get the latest resources for making informed decisions during your vendor evaluation process.
November 10, 2009 10 Nov'09
Business process automation vs. business process management: A primer

Do you know the difference between BPA and BPM? Learn the importance of business process management and business process automation in our comparison.
November 06, 2009 06 Nov'09
Droid does, but will IT support it?

Verizon's first Android phones, the Droid Eris by HTC and Motorola Droid, are being released today. The commercials highlight a string of new features not currently available on some other ...
November 05, 2009 05 Nov'09
Free IT outsourcing templates: SLAs, RFPs and more

CIOs pursuing IT outsourcing deals can benefit from templates spelling out SLA and RFP best practices. Get links to some free IT outsourcing templates.
October 22, 2009 22 Oct'09
Gartner's top 10 strategic technologies for 2010

Gartner's list of technologies that bear examination during the next three years show an agile, mobile, secure enterprise that can spot early warning signs and predict trends.
October 15, 2009 15 Oct'09
Lean thinking in IT: Case studies and advice from practitioners

Lean thinking in IT can improve customer satisfaction and business alignment and cut waste, as TransUnion, Harley-Davidson and Flextronics have found. Here's how.
October 06, 2009 06 Oct'09
Software vendor evaluation criteria: Sample scorecard templates for IT projects

Need a hand in evaluating prospective vendors or managing your current crop? Here's a sampling of software vendor scorecards and requirements to help you create your own.
October 01, 2009 01 Oct'09
ITIL case study: Comparing two financial services firms’ best practices

When Barclays Global Investors and Wachovia invested in ITIL, they saw improved efficiencies and huge cost savings. Read their stories here.
September 29, 2009 29 Sep'09
Free risk management tools and resources for the enterprise

An accurate risk management assessment can save you millions. Learn how to create, upgrade or review a risk management process using our list of tools, calculators and resources.
September 15, 2009 15 Sep'09
Service portfolio management: Helping IT get back to business

More mature IT shops are adopting ITIL v3's service portfolio management approach to better manage the service lifecycle and provide business-centric services to the organization.
September 08, 2009 08 Sep'09
Tips from the CDC's CIO on H1N1 flu preparedness

As a second wave of swine flu looms, we check in with James Seligman, CIO at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on a CIO checklist for H1N1.
September 03, 2009 03 Sep'09
Virtualization technology use spreading into desktops and storage

Servers are still prime virtualization candidates, but CIOs are also looking at desktop and storage virtualization and tweaking virtualization technologies for project testing.
September 03, 2009 03 Sep'09
Tips for business continuity and contingency planning for swine flu

IT business continuity plans for swine flu outbreaks focus on people and remote access issues. Here are experts' tips on what to include.
September 02, 2009 02 Sep'09
Uniting ITSM, PPM process methodologies yields IT management benefits

ITSM and PPM are typically separate disciplines, but integrating them can increase visibility, help with budgeting and more. Learn more about this dynamic duo.
September 01, 2009 01 Sep'09
Effective ITIL project leadership: Plan-Do-Check-Act

Successful ITIL project leaders are using the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle to ensure their teams stay motivated, follow the same processes and contribute innovative ideas.
August 27, 2009 27 Aug'09
IT outsourcing pros and cons for Latin, South America

IT outsourcing pros and cons for Latin and South America range from time zone alignment and geographic proximity to a lack of vendors and language barriers. Learn more here.

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