CIO — As Microsoft (MSFT) CIO, Tony Scott oversees the software giant's security, infrastructure, and messaging and business applications, and helps support the product and corporate business groups as well as Redmond's global sales and marketing organization.

So you know, it's kind of an important job.

But even though he is in charge of the technology for one of the world's largest and most complex companies, Scott, who was previously CIO of Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and CTO at General Motors, still has the same day-to-day challenges as all CIOs, including giving guidance to employees, staying focused on the customer's needs and striking a healthy work/life balance.

CIO.com's Shane O'Neill visited Scott in his office at Microsoft headquarters to discuss the changing role of the CIO, how Microsoft is treated by the press and how kicking cigarettes made him a better CIO.

What are most challenging day-to-day aspects of being CIO of a giant company like Microsoft?

I think the challenge and the fun of it is you never quite know what's going to happen that day. We at Microsoft live in a pretty dynamic world. You feel good about the systems you have in place and the work you're doing, but there's always an unexpected element, in tech in particular, whether it's what competitors are doing or what you're own company is doing, or how the market is reacting to something.

"Different mentors over time have given me good advice. The best? Always pay attention to the customer. Having an outside-in view of the world rather than an inside-out view has really stuck in my brain."

Tony Scott, Microsoft CIO

There are always people who love what you're doing, there's people who are ambivalent about it, and there are people who hate it. So dealing with that on a daily basis is both the challenge and the opportunity.

I get mail everyday from people at Microsoft who say 'great job on this project!' and then right behind it will be somebody who is complaining that the very same thing is the most screwed up thing they've ever seen.

How do you choose what elements of the CIO role to focus on and what to put in the pending file?

I think if you have a long-term focus it can get you through the daily highs and lows.

I think it's also important to be reflective and look at the progress you've made. We have objective and subjective measures of that here at Microsoft, whether its employee satisfaction or customer feedback, that's what gets me going because it tells you what you're doing well and what you need to work on.

Continue Reading