CIO Blogs
Must-read commentary from expert contributors
5 fundamental steps for turning your data into an asset
Nick Daffan, CIO of Verisk Analytics, on how engaging data scientists, finding quick wins, and providing flexible technology are key to your data strategy.
3 steps to developing a risk response advisory system
Much like DEFCON is used in the U.S. Armed Forces to react to changing threat levels, your enterprise needs its own PANDCON to deal with changing pandemic conditions. Here's how to get started.
The path forward requires empathy and transparency in leadership
We find ourselves in unprecedented times with a global pandemic and a heightened state of civic and social unrest that has exposed systematic inequalities along racial and socioeconomic lines. The impact on businesses has been profound and I believe we have yet to see the half of it. This is posing a real test of leadership for the C-suite, IT, HR and across all lines of business. Who will take on the challenge of empathetic and transparent leadership?
Defining a data privacy strategy in the digital era
Personalized customer experiences, automated business operations, and data science-driven insights all depend on the quality and volume of your data. However, while the last decade has been a rush to drill for data, it is becoming ever more important for brand trust and regulatory compliance for a data privacy strategy to be more than a policy on ethics. It needs to be an operational capability that organizations sustain in order to protect their customers, protect the company, and differentiate the brand value proposition.Interviewing for a board seat: 3 key differences vs. CIO jobs
Cultural fit, collaborative spirit and commitment matter just as much to board directors as your tech expertise.
How platform thinking drives innovation at Visteon
Raman Mehta, CIO, discusses the shift from traditional manufacturing to software engineering at one of the world’s largest cockpit electronics companies.
COVID-19 accelerates enterprise use of automation in digital transformation
As the pandemic increased digital demands, technology leaders were forced to move up roadmaps for RPA and hyperautomation
COVID times call for COVID measures
With AI models rendered useless by the pandemic, data jocks are scurrying to make sense of a changed world. CIOs, meanwhile, need to walk a tightrope between facilitating all the new fact-finding and maintaining security and governance to keep data – as well as the company and its customers – safe. That’s easier said than done in normal times.
Culture counts: Why building strong teams requires a little TLC
The 'magic' behind successful teams involves encouraging diversity of thought and defining clear rules of engagement
Seeking opportunity in crisis, boards uphold digital growth agendas
Determined to find opportunity in the COVID aftermath, boards are leaning in with more management support in addition to their usual strategic oversight. Navigating the post-pandemic world will amplify IT leadership in agility and innovation.
The two tools you must harness right now to rise to today’s challenges
The pandemic-driven shift to virtual business merely accelerated existing, disruptive trends. Adapting to what's next comes down to two seemingly disparate components.rn
Navigating the new reality of working together, remotely
How our understanding of work and employee experience is changing
Creating a data-driven business at McKinsey & Co.
Mike Wright, Global CIO, is turning knowledge into value at the global management consulting firm.
Ready for (almost) anything
The global pandemic put new, unforeseen layers of stress on CIOs. Most are emerging better equipped for future challenges.
Executive Development: When CEOs help their CIOs prepare for board roles
It may seem counterintuitive for CEOs to encourage (and even coach) their CIOs and senior business leaders to serve on outside boards, but doing so can deliver real business benefits.
IT must think like a business and go beyond traditional business partnerships
By shifting its mindset from supporting core technologies to one that is more closely in tune with business objectives and customer needs, Oshkosh Corporation’s IT has a sharper focus and understanding on leveraging solutions that ultimately make a difference in people’s lives.
Welcome to the new age of technology?
In just a few months, technology has transformed businesses the world over. And there's no doubt that businesses will plan their road to recovery on a path powered by technology. Has this new digital-first mindset ushered in a new technological age?
Best practices, advice, research for IT leaders
As the COVID-19 crisis continues to challenge the IT community, IT leaders turn to experts, peers and research for help with those issues and more.
Security executives succeeding in the chaotic coronavirus world
What a crazy world we live in – employees working from home, “dirty” personal devices being used to access corporate data, furloughed employees still maintaining corporate IT assets and access – all while the quantity and variety of cyberattacks and fraud is drastically increasing. Corporate security executives have never had a harder set of challenges to deal with.
Crossing the project-to-product chasm
Most IT organizations have honed their ability to deliver projects when the scope and desired outcome are static, but struggle when priorities shift or are not clearly defined. Several leading IT organizations have turned to product-based IT to cut through this ambiguity and elevate their role from service provider to business partner.
Is your business about to be disrupted by data?
The challenge of dealing with COVID-19 comes on top of recent trends in data-driven innovation and presents challenges and opportunities for companies across all sectors.
Make it a spreadsheet problem
Making data-driven business decisions can change the entire equation.
Predictive analytics unlocks factory capacity at Reynolds
Rita Fisher, CIO and SVP of Supply Chain, discusses her approach to digitizing plant operations at the global consumer products company.
5 key ingredients for the ideal board resume
Whether it’s a DIY rewrite of your executive CV or a professionally produced document, every board candidate needs a resume that shines.
Let’s learn from Europe’s broadband mistake
Former Congressman Rick Boucher, founder of the House Internet Caucus, says the US’s better internet performance during the coronavirus pandemic is attributable to sustained private investment that has been encouraged by a light-touch regulatory regime for broadband.
5 steps to assess offshore support risk (and 5 steps to address critical needs)
To ensure continuity of critical operations, all businesses should take these practical steps to engage, assess, and partner with offshore service providers.
Hold the DAM
Why starting with a data strategy is key to successful Digital Asset Management.
A CIO's checklist for executing the COVID pivot
Simultaneously adjusting to new realities and developing forward-looking plans is near-impossible. This checklist will help you focus your efforts.
COVID-19 thrusts e-commerce into the spotlight
3 stages to becoming a digital business in a novel economy.Post COVID-19 business models: Finding the new normal
Pivots and process changes, yes. New normal? Not so fast.
How PetSmart IT grooms the customer experience
Mike Goodwin, CIO, discusses how a new product management model is key to streamlining the "pet parent's" customer experience.
What the coronavirus has taught us about transformation
Becoming 100% virtual is a major disruptor to the way we do business, the way we learn and the way we live – but it is also propelling us forward while making use of fully available technology.
Effective IT cost optimization starts with internal alignment
Take the time to understand the priorities and objectives of business stakeholders and avoid the natural tendency to apply immediate pressure to vendor partners.
4 ways CIOs can drive circular economy innovations
CIOs are well-positioned to take a leading role in creating new business value and bolstering competitive agility in the circular economy.
Passion over profits: What nonprofit boards have to offer CIOs
Count on gaining useful experience and connections, but not the right skills to qualify for a corporate board seat.
Funding digital transformation through financial management agility
Navigating digital disruption requires a clear decision-making framework that is pwered by efficient and dynamic financial management practices.
5 tips for executing a successful ERP go-live
Few experiences in the business world compare to managing an ERP go-live. Here's how to set yourself up for success.
Finding the right balance in multi-cloud data management
IT leaders today have a lot more to consider in building a cloud-based and data-driven infrastructure than juggling resources and maintaining costs.
How to bring order to chaos
When taking charge of an organization characterized by chaos, use these principles to help quickly turn the ship get things under control.
Land O'Lakes IT whips up business outcomes
To encourage cross-functional product teams to focus on business outcomes, CIO Marc Carlson replaces spot bonuses with a long-term incentive plan.
5 tips for navigating supplier relationships in an economic downturn
Don't let cost-cutting derail your digital transformation; take these steps to strengthen supplier relationships.
How the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping healthcare with technology
It’s a remarkable story that is playing out in the technology-led enablement at the back end of healthcare organizations, even as the headlines are dominated by the heroic response efforts at the front lines of care.
Reskill for technology: Take a risk and invest in yourself
Technology changed in the way we work, impacting up to 54% of all employees who need to become digitally fluent almost overnight.
When it comes to cybersecurity, we need to adapt for now and the future
As we adapt to a future of remote workers, this is a critical time to ensure you have an incident response plan in place, and can adapt for an indefinite change in operational processes – including who is managing this response.
Briefing the board on security: Put data in the driver’s seat
Skip the scare tactics and cultivate “tech champions” among your board directors via data-driven stories and cybersecurity scorecards.
3 important things about online presentations
Online presentations have unique requirements for success. Here are three important things to keep in mind as you prepare and deliver a presentation online.
10 suggestions to lead effectively during an unprecedented pandemic
Be an effective crisis leader. The world needs leadership now, and it needs it from you.
How to keep hiring and onboarding new talent while working remotely
You can’t afford to slow down filling necessary positions when your offices are closed.
Data ahead! How smart products are changing the traditional sales cycle
Smart and connected products are changing the traditional sales funnel and customer lifecycle and presenting new challenges and opportunities for CIOs.