Strategies and Trends for Information Technology Leaders
In the world of business and technology consulting, a person’s capabilitiesoften are measured by his title. His aptitude and wisdom appear to grow in stature as the title loses its activity-based nature and assumes the mantle of hierarchical power. Although developers, data analysts, systems integrators, database administrators, et. al. can possess great vision and often…
During a recent hotel stay, I discovered the show Hell’s Kitchen. For those who don’t know it, here is a brief synopsis of my understanding: A former English chef is asked to come into a poorly-performing restaurant in order to help get things running smoothly and take care of the most glaring issues. Sound familiar?…
Compared to people who have mastered the art of getting help from others, if you rely too much on your talents and energy alone, you are at an extreme disadvantage. Mentors can have a bigger impact on your success than virtually anything outside your own efforts. There are five types of mentors that every CIO…
While the economy is hitting technology companies in general hard, a new report suggests that corporate IT jobs may be a bit more recession-proof. The 20th annual Computer Economics’s 2009 IT Salary Report finds that while salary growth has slowed, IT worker pay is still projected to increase on average by two percent this year….
Despite turmoil in global markets, two-thirds of senior technology industry executives polled in a new survey say the economic slowdown will not hurt them as badly as the bursting of the tech bubble in 2000. However, more than three-quarters of respondents say their business has been impacted by the financial crisis, according to the study…
In recent years service catalog has grown in awareness and a growing number of commercial products are available. Yet the majority of implementations have been developed as in-house or ad-hoc projects. This article outlines the evolution of service catalog capabilities and the trade offs involved in building rather than buying. As the broad movement toward…
Suppose your family is in the market for a new house. Your plan is to interview three builders and then choose one to build your new home. You meet with Acme Builders first. The salesperson, Ann, asks some questions about what you have in mind and you describe your ideas. Ann tells you that Acme’s…
Even though, economically speaking, things are looking tougher by the day, in general, IT is fairing pretty well. Budget growth may not be what you would like it to be, but there is growth. Staffing levels are also, for the most part (depending what sector you’re in), are holding steady with more companies looking to…
You can be doing a fantastic job, but if some of your key stakeholders either don’t know about it, or have an incorrect perspective about your work, it can be a huge block to your credibility and your success. It is the role of any executive to both do their job and build personal credibility…
If this recession turns out to be like the one we came out of just a few years ago, then IT is going to be cutting back a lot, again. Since most companies still view IT as a cost center; something lumped in with other G&A expenses such as finance and HR, it’s only logical…