Getting a seat at the executive table is common for CIOs, but even those who are there have to learn how to define their role as business strategist. Define what IT does by focusing on competitive advantage, ongoing operations, managing risk and reducing cost Have IT leaders spend time with business leaders to become well-rounded and increase credibility. Do not have a “We will build it, they will come” attitude, or focus metrics on tactical issues over business outcomes. Report IT costs with reference to business solutions. Recognize reasoning for project approval Project prioritization and approval are often informed by whether IT helps make or save money, or does what couldn’t be done before. Facilitate executive collaboration As one of the few business leaders who crosses functional silos, CIOs should facilitate meetings among their C-level peers. Overcome “chief implementer” role To be perceived as a planner, not an implementer, CIOs must learn, understand and anticipate the needs of the business. Articulate results Deliver on deadline, measure the results and market the role that the CIO and IT had in making the changes or enhancements happen. Insights collected from participants at the CIO Perspectives Forums in San Francisco (Sept. 21, 2009) and Washington, D.C. (Oct. 21, 2009). Get more information about CIO Perspectives at www.cio.com/executive-programs or register at council.cio.com/perspectives. Related content opinion Website spoofing: risks, threats, and mitigation strategies for CIOs In this article, we take a look at how CIOs can tackle website spoofing attacks and the best ways to prevent them. By Yash Mehta Dec 01, 2023 5 mins CIO Cyberattacks Security brandpost Sponsored by Catchpoint Systems Inc. Gain full visibility across the Internet Stack with IPM (Internet Performance Monitoring) Today’s IT systems have more points of failure than ever before. Internet Performance Monitoring provides visibility over external networks and services to mitigate outages. By Neal Weinberg Dec 01, 2023 3 mins IT Operations brandpost Sponsored by Zscaler How customers can save money during periods of economic uncertainty Now is the time to overcome the challenges of perimeter-based architectures and reduce costs with zero trust. By Zscaler Dec 01, 2023 4 mins Security feature LexisNexis rises to the generative AI challenge With generative AI, the legal information services giant faces its most formidable disruptor yet. That’s why CTO Jeff Reihl is embracing and enhancing the technology swiftly to keep in front of the competition. By Paula Rooney Dec 01, 2023 6 mins Generative AI Digital Transformation Cloud Computing Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe