On mySimon: Magno Wooden AM/FM Radios
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 1 of 31:
Next »
Backwards...
"In choosing a CIO, the cardinal rule is to pick someone
whose skills align with the technology you have or want."

I wouldn't call that a cardinal rule, but it certainly is
important.

"There is a significant proviso: it?s technology that counts,
not its application."

That makes me shudder...

"Since the CIO is supposed to deliver IT services, not use
them, this means that he?ll learn what he has to about your
business from the experts in place"

Maybe if your talking about a systems analyst or similar
position, but one should have higher expectations of a CIO
and his staff.

"and that means that industry experience is nice to have in
a candidate, but should be far down the list of decision
criteria."

Oh god, I hope no one listens to that recommendation.

Murph, I think much of the unnecessary pain and expense
that IT has caused businesses is directly rooted in placing
technology over application. IT grunts tend to be relatively
pure technologists. That's what the industry expects of
them. But a CIO, and all of his/her key staff, should be
able to cogently demonstrate an intimate understanding of
the business and industry. This includes his "super
technology gurus."

The CIO is an executive position. It's reasonable to expect
it to know both the business and technology. If a
candidate doesn't thoroughly understand both, then he's
not qualified.
Posted by: Erik Engbrecht   Posted on: 03/14/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Backwards...  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
Thank you  rapson | 03/14/08
That's the party line, but it's wrong  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
yes and no  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
Yes business knowledge is essential - industry knowledge is not  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
Might as well outsource all IT  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
The problem, I think...  Anton Philidor | 03/14/08
Competitive Advantage  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
Small efficiencies are not competitive advantages.  Anton Philidor | 03/14/08
Reply to your "competitive advantage" comment  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
Culture  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
Anyone can fly a plane  Roger Ramjet | 03/14/08
Auto pilot  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
But that's exactly the problem with your recommendation  IMS_Scott | 03/14/08
Good argument.. but I have weasel wording  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
Who determines the tech you want?  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
This is a hiring effort, not a planning effort  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/15/08
That's not clear...  Erik Engbrecht | 03/15/08
Well maybe  TheTruthisOutThere@... | 03/15/08
Actually...  IMS_Scott | 03/17/08
Is the system working?  Anton Philidor | 03/14/08
Also, "management methods and processes"  Anton Philidor | 03/14/08
Article leaves out one important factor  j.m.galvin | 03/14/08
The "... true mark of a successful executive ..."  Anton Philidor | 03/14/08
Agreed  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
Sum up the small efficiencies...  Erik Engbrecht | 03/14/08
Yes - and if you internalize the process  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/14/08
It's the technology that counts???!  ceopundit | 03/14/08
yes, it is  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/15/08
RE: Question: is this about framing?  murph_z ZDNet Moderator | 03/15/08
Not quite  Erik Engbrecht | 03/16/08

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads