As a CEO or other senior executive overseeing IT, are you experiencing any of the following situations?

• The IT Department is not responsive and viewed with disdain by staff?
• Complaints of poor IT customer service?
• IT projects bogging down or not completing as expected?
• The IT Director speaks in a seemingly foreign language leaving you just as confused at the end of the conversation?
• Computer systems failing without permanent solutions or understandable reasons why?
• IT initiatives not aligning with business strategic planning? No IT strategic planning?
• Frustrated with IT as a consistent problem area?

These and many other similar situations are common for IT Departments without senior leadership by a competent Chief Information Officer or CIO.

The role of a good CIO is:

TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP WHILE BUILDING AND MAINTAINING FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED TEAMS, ALIGNING IT PROJECTS WITH BUSINESS GOALS AND STRATEGIZING WITH UPPER MANAGEMENT TO MAKE IT A VALUED AND INTEGRAL BUSINESS PARTNER.

Many medium and larger sized companies feel they are unable to afford a full-time CIO but an alternative is to find and retain a Consulting CIO – a part-time CIO who is brought in to address a specific area or is put under retainer to provide ongoing CIO type services. Such a retainer could be arranged in a cost efficient manner whereby the Consulting CIO provides high-level advice and project oversight with existing staff or external service providers who perform the hands on work.

Qualities to look for in selecting a Consulting CIO:

• Has already cut their teeth on the situations and technologies your firm needs help with.
• Proven track record of similar projects with excellent testimonials and references.
• Exudes honest confidence in the areas being considered for engagement and puts you at ease.
• Superlative communication abilities in general and has an excellent way of translating technical jargon into concepts that are easy to grasp.
• Is very personable and easy to get along with.
• Immediately connects and is acceptable by other senior staff.
• Never makes you feel inferior or self-conscious about technology but educates you in new and constructive ways.

Given a Consulting CIO who knows their stuff and has a solid background in the areas your firm needs help on, then the value of a Consulting CIO should not be underestimated. They can come in quickly, assess the situation and get things moving in the right direction without delay.

And how valuable would that be to your organization?

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• Emerging Technologies and their Impact on the CIO