Three very different organisations, each in a different country, have recently asked me to help formulate their operating model as ‘expert customers’ of IT. Two would be a coincidence, but three is looking like a trend. It seems that organisations are now waking up to the fact that neither outsourcing the IT department nor turning it into an in-house quasi-supplier of services has solved their root-cause issues with IT. So they are starting to look hard at their strategy for exploiting IT and the operating model to go with it.Where the organisation has a CIO in place, he or she is – thankfully – leading the formulation of the new strategy and operating model. Where there is no CIO, then the thrust is coming from the organisation’s corporate strategists. The top-tier focus of the new operating model is on business innovation, investment in change and asset/service exploitation. Sourcing (or demand/supply management as it is sometimes called) is a second-tier competency which needs the top-tier to be effective to make its best contribution. Tellingly, the IT department – if there is one – is not pictured as the centre of the organisation’s ‘IT universe’. This takes the CIO into an interesting space: leading the organisation in the execution of a strategy and operating model where her traditional department may be significant members of the supporting cast, but others have the star roles. Related content opinion Android Security Hole of the Week: Researchers ID New, Severe DoS Attack A group of Italian security researchers have discovered a new Android Denial of Service (DoS) attack that can render Google smartphones and tablets useless in a matter of minutes, making it the most severe Android DoS attack ever identified. By Al Sacco Mar 27, 2012 3 mins Small and Medium Business Smartphones Mobile Security opinion Trip to Ethiopia Trip to Ethiopia to meet with couple of microfinance institutions By Jiten Patel Jul 24, 2010 2 mins IT Leadership opinion CGAP - Virtual Conference Recap: Hurdles to Surmount for Microfinance - Capacity Building & Technology Good 2 day conference on challenges faced by Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) on the critical subjects of capacity building and By Jiten Patel Jul 09, 2010 1 min IT Leadership opinion CGAP Virtual Conference - Day 2 Jul 8th: Getting past the technology hurdles faced by MFIs CGAP Forum - Getting past the technology hurdles faced by MFIs By Jiten Patel Jul 08, 2010 1 min IT Leadership 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