CIO strategy
Today's CIOs, CTOs, CDOs and other IT leaders must tackle constantly evolving challenges. Get critical news, guides and tips on how to excel in business and technology leadership. Topics include CIO strategy, business disruption, hybrid workforces, change management, cross-departmental collaboration, and how to lead projects related to metaverse, AI, and blockchain.
Top Stories
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News
11 Mar 2025
Generative AI models like DSLMs outperform LLMs in value
Small domain-specific generative AI models can be designed to address specific industry needs, proving more cost-effective and efficient than large language models for businesses. Continue Reading
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News
10 Mar 2025
GenAI use cases show value, but pain points persist
While large companies are generating value in genAI use cases, others are struggling to find the same value. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Apr 2019
Keith Krach: The making of a technology leader
Keith Krach, of DocuSign fame, talks about his long career as a technology leader. Part one covers the early years, from his first jobs at GM to making his mark in Silicon Valley. Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2019
Scalable learning vs. scalable efficiency in the automation age
The right way to treat employees in the automation age is not by deploying scalable efficiency, but by offering scalable learning. The first requirement: enlightened leaders. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
20 Mar 2019
The CIO job on steroids: The 'CIO-plus'
The term CIO-plus came up in a recent conversation about the attributes of a successful CIO. It's another twist on the ever-morphing CIO job. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2019
Trump 2020 budget calls for more RPA, better CX
The Trump 2020 budget calls for ways to upgrade the consumer experience with RPA and user-friendly interfaces. But legacy systems continue to take the lion's share of IT funds. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2019
5 reasons CIO career paths go south -- and how to protect yourself
Safeguard your CIO career path. Agiloft CEO Colin Earl details the top five reasons CIOs get the ax -- and how to avoid them. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jan 2019
Free IT mission statement examples for CIOs
These free IT mission statement examples and how-tos can help CIOs and their IT departments identify and refine their organizational goals. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2019
CIO role: Should a CIO manipulate information?
IT experts react to yesterday's report in the Wall Street Journal that a CIO used his private company to manipulate online polling data. What's that say about the CIO role? Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jan 2019
Ret. Gen. Stan McChrystal on what's wrong with modern leadership
Retired four-star Gen. Stan McChrystal talks about how modern leadership needs to change and what leadership means in the age of AI. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Digital user experience a big CIO goal in 2019
In 2019, CIOs should expect to play a major role in delivering a top-notch digital user experience -- for customers, employees and for the sake of the company brand. Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2018
How to get more women leaders in tech: It's not just a numbers game
Women leaders in tech are still few and far between. The industry knows it's a problem, but fixing gender inequality in the top ranks won't be easy, according to a recent panel. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Nov 2018
The role of the CIO today requires 2 key skills
Matt Minetola, CIO at Travelport, reflects on how the role of the CIO in digital transformation has rewritten the rules of IT success. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2018
Digital transformation budgets are on the rise for 2019
According to recent industry analyst predictions, digital transformation budgets are on the rise for 2019, with investments in those initiatives driving the increase. Continue Reading
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News
31 Oct 2018
'Radical candor' management style resonates at Harvard tech event
How to be a better boss: At Tech Conference 24, leadership guru Kim Scott shared how a stern critique from Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg led to the concept of 'radical candor.' Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Oct 2018
Improve your digital transformation plan: 3 tips from EY's Jeff Wong
EY's chief innovation officer believes a successful digital transformation plan rests on building an ecosystem of internal champions and outside experts who don't think alike. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Sep 2018
The information technology budgeting process: One CTO's experience
Budget surprises have the power to take a company's yearly plans from smooth to chaotic. Look at one CTO's journey through the information technology budgeting process in 2018. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 Aug 2018
ITSM program: Tips on where to start, from a CIO who's been there
Link Alander has spent nearly a decade taking Lone Star College's ITSM program from subpar to superior. Here, he offers some tips for CIOs just getting started. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2018
Deloitte CIO survey: Traditional CIO role doesn't cut it in digital era
New findings from Deloitte show CIOs are not evolving with the times. More than half are stuck in 'trusted operator' mode, which is quickly becoming obsolete. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Aug 2018
Speed, service, solutions are CIO priorities for Arcadis IT exec
Heading into the final stretch of his first year as CIO, Justin Wright has strong ideas about how to make IT a better partner to the business. Read about his CIO priorities for people, processes and technologies. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Aug 2018
How to become a digital leader: A design company's blueprint
Arcadis CIO Justin Wright explains how IT is working in tandem with the business to make the firm a digital leader for its construction industry clients. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 Jul 2018
ITIL 4 has some bones to pick with ITSM trends
New guidance from ITIL -- the widely adopted framework for the design, delivery and maintenance of IT services -- is scheduled to be published in early 2019. ITIL 4, as it's called, is the first ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
23 Jul 2018
Boston Fed takes on future of blockchain, launches hands-on project
Paul Brassil, vice president of IT at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, tells an auidence of CIOs at the Forrester New Tech & Innovation Forum about why his team cares about the future of ... Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jul 2018
CIO roles: Developing 'safe and sound' IT systems
Digital transformation is having a big influence on the evolution of the CIO role. For one CIO, responsibilities have expanded into ensuring the 'safety and soundness' of IT systems. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2018
Three capabilities all leaders of innovation possess
Harvard's Linda Hill tells IT execs at LiveWorx that in order to be leaders of innovation they need to champion three things. One of them is 'creative abrasion.' Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2018
CIO position: Evolve conference shows many ways to manage IT
The recent Evolve Technology Conference's Outlier Award program revealed varied takes on IT management philosophy and approaches to the CIO position. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jun 2018
Putting tech ethics to work is the right thing to do
That cool new app might bring in a fortune on the market, but what are the human and social implications? The time to think about tech ethics is now. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jun 2018
The future of work requires a new C-suite
CIOs, get ready for C-suite 3.0, where corporate chiefs will have to break out of their silos to future-proof the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 May 2018
Digital talent: Liberty Mutual insists on engineers who can talk business KPIs
Liberty Mutual Insurance takes a two-pronged approach to building its digital talent ranks: recruit from the outside and offer coding lessons to existing employees. Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2018
Indeed.com releases top 10 most in-demand CIO skills
Job site Indeed.com has released a list of the most in-demand skills for today's CIOs, based on job postings. Experts I talked to said 'most in-demand' doesn't mean most valuable. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2018
Four CIO strategies for finding the business ROI in emerging tech
IT execs from Yamaha, Union Pacific, the city of Las Vegas and UL share their CIO strategies for deriving business benefit from emerging tech. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2018
The CIO voice in the boardroom: Skills needed to get there
At a recent webinar, IT leaders discussed the factors driving the absence of a CIO voice in the boardroom and highlighted the skills they need to earn a seat at the table. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
30 Mar 2018
Data literacy training: CIOs just got a new job, yippee!
Data literacy is fast becoming a requirement in the modern digital enterprise, but many so-called knowledge workers lack the ability to read data. Should CIOs take on the job of data literacy training? Continue Reading
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Guide
27 Mar 2018
IT Priorities survey predicts 2018 IT strategy for tech pros
In TechTarget's annual IT Priorities survey, information technology professionals across industries provide a glimpse of their 2018 IT strategy plans and pet projects. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
28 Feb 2018
Forrester to CIOs: Blockchain networks are not truth machines
Who couldn't use a little clarity on blockchain? A new report from Forrester Research separates myth from the current reality of blockchain networks. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2018
Startup thinking: CIOs face challenges tapping entrepreneurial spirit
Startup thinking is something CIOs and their enterprises hope to incorporate, but they must consider the rigors and challenges of embracing startup culture. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
12 Feb 2018
In praise of recommendation engines, AI with proven ROI
Is an infatuation with deep learning blinding CIOs to other, more accessible forms of AI, to wit: recommendation engines? So says digital transformation guru Isaac Sacolick. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 Jan 2018
AI in the workplace: Try it, you'll like it
Google and its big tech compatriots know what we're up to much of the time; it won't be long before employers do too. Welcome to the future workplace; behold the quantified worker. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Jan 2018
The 2018 CIO budget plan: The goal is lofty, but is the money there?
Digital transformation and underlying technologies -- cloud, AI, DevOps -- dominate CIO strategies this year, but it's unclear whether CIO budgets are up to the task. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Jan 2018
In digital era, CEO's job is to score with tech
Lisa Pearson, chief exec at data analytics company Umbel, discusses the CEO's job -- ever-slanting toward tech -- in a time of the "superpower consumer." Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jan 2018
CIO: Adaptability essential to modernize IT structure
Darin Morrow discusses how he achieves one of his primary goals as Cricket Wireless CIO: Ensuring the company's IT structure defines and continuously improves business processes. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2018
CIO goals and IT resolutions for 2018
Seven CIOs plus one chief digital officer give us a glimpse of their technology plans for the new year. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jan 2018
Top IT guidance for CIOs in 2017 underscores urgency of digitization
Digital transformation and the need for speed, scale and clear communication were the big topics explored in our top 10 CIO advice columns of 2017. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Oct 2017
Enterprise IT infrastructure: Outsource or upgrade for CIOs?
Intent-based networking and other emerging technologies offer new approaches to enterprise IT, but some CIOs are seeking innovation in cloud computing. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2017
Run a hackathon event that pays off -- and draws women
IBM Watson Health's chief scientist explains how a hackathon event can pay dividends for a company, provided it's run right. Plus, advice on how to get more women to hackathons. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jun 2017
The future of workplace structure: Cross-functional teams, AI impact
The digital workplace, including the CIO shop, is moving toward cross-functional collaboration, greater openness to outside contributors and the uptake of artificial intelligence. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2017
Former Apple CEO discusses AI, leadership and experience marketing
Former Apple and Pepsi CEO John Sculley discusses how disruptive technologies and leadership styles are influencing industries far beyond IT. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2017
Executing strategies: Close the gap between vision and implementation
That vision thing won't do CIOs much good if they fail to execute on strategy, management experts say. Here's how to overcome the hurdles that can get in the way of success. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Mar 2017
Two IT leadership strategies that made me a successful CIO
A new way to prioritize IT activities and an epiphany about leadership made all the difference in Niel Nickolaisen's career as an IT leader. Read about these two IT leadership strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Mar 2017
The power of positive four-letter words to unlock employee potential
Four-letter words like can't and don't crush an employee's potential and quash creativity. Have the courage to use positive four-letter words and watch what happens. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
06 Feb 2017
Reporting lines for the CDO role: Context counts
The chief data officer (CDO) role may be gaining influence, but a lingering question that both public and the private sector organizations have yet to answer is: Who should CDOs report to? ... Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Jan 2017
What is the SIAM model and why do CIOs need it?
Multisourcing can boost IT and business agility, but the approach can also spiral out of control. The SIAM model aims to ensure delivery is seamless and strategic. Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2016
Teaching leadership to Millennials? First, get used to them
Teaching leadership skills is critical in a changing world, MIT's John Van Maanen says, but coaching Millennials comes with unique challenges. Continue Reading
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Opinion
29 Dec 2016
The commanding presence of quiet leaders
The MIT CFO Summit explores the inverse of the stereotypical extroverted leader and the effect that quiet leaders can have in an organization. Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2016
Becoming a strategic CIO
Strategic CIOs create customer value, improve profit and enhance shareholder value. According to Phil Weinzimer, they jumped through four high hoops to get there. Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Nov 2016
To be leaders, technical professionals must move beyond IT expertise
Technical professionals sometimes flounder when adapting to leadership roles. Here are the four critical skills that they must strengthen to become high impact business leaders. Continue Reading
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Guide
16 Nov 2016
Key IT metrics: A CIO guide
As technology and the business evolve, so do IT metrics. In this Essential Guide, learn how to navigate KPIs, IT investment and cloud cost optimization techniques. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2016
Become a change agent: Stop procrastinating
Don't be like the white-haired bride and groom who put off the big event until they could afford it. Now is the time for action, says organizational agility expert Joseph Flahiff. Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2016
Macro trends HP is tracking: Urbanization, globalization, demographics
HP Inc. CTO Shane Wall weighs in on three big macro trends that are shaping the company's long-horizon strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jun 2016
Delegator vs. micromanager: What kind of boss are you?
Being a delegator is one of the hardest jobs for a leader. Joseph Flahiff explains. Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2016
How three digital leaders overcame resistance to change
Digital leaders at CBS, IBM and SAP point to culture as one of the biggest digital transformation hurdles. Here's how they prevailed. Continue Reading
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News
06 Apr 2016
Instagram roundup: Disruptive business models, digital investments
2016 Fusion CEO-CIO Symposium caught on Instagram: Follow along as senior news writer Nicole Laskowski chronicles sessions on disruptive business models and digital investments. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
30 Mar 2016
To beat odds, procurement officers should focus on value, not cost
Chief procurement officers (CPO) have a very short window of time in which to make their mark at a company: The average tenure is less than five years. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2016
Three keys to a good business reorganization
The typical reorg evokes fear, stress and suspicion -- and kills productivity. Here's how to change that. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Feb 2016
8 free IT budget plan templates for CIOs
Creating a reliable IT budget plan is no cinch, especially in today's digital age. Here, we've rounded up free, customizable IT budget templates to help. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2015
How organizational agility will save and destroy your company
Aiming for organizational agility? Prepare to change how you scope work, structure teams, develop talent, practice leadership, and deliver and sell your products. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Oct 2015
Building an online game platform: Startup caters to developers
The online game platform startup STOVE aims to solve the catch-22 of platform businesses by offering business assistance to its content producers, in addition to user analytics. Continue Reading
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Guide
30 Sep 2015
A CIO's guide to enterprise cloud migration
Considering an enterprise cloud migration? This Essential Guide delves into the process and lays out best practices for getting the job done. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2015
Infographic: Strategic IT plan checklist for CIOs
A company's IT strategy can determine whether it sinks or floats in today's competitive marketplace. Download our free checklist to find out what components should be in your strategic IT plan. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
31 Jul 2015
Duolingo cofounder explains crowdsourcing to the MIT crowd
When Luis von Ahn was 12, he dreamed of becoming a "gazillionaire" by building a chain of free gyms where the kinetic energy people expended on exercise equipment would be captured and sold to ... Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2015
The secret to becoming a 'digital master'? Close the IT/business gap.
Capgemini's Didier Bonnet shines a light on how businesses are mastering the digital transformation: The Data Mill reports from the CDO Summit. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2015
Loss of focus chief reason for startup failure
Too much passion, too little passion, too many cooks -- there are many factors that can lead to loss of focus and, ultimately, to startup failure. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Feb 2015
Chief innovation officers need friends in high places
Hyatt, Merck and Nestlé Purina execs explain their business processes for innovation and detail why backing from on high is important. Continue Reading
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Guide
24 Jul 2014
CIO Innovator profiles: Industry groundbreakers, great IT leaders
SearchCIO's award-winning CIO Innovator profile series features IT executives who are applying information technology to enable, grow and transform business. Continue Reading
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Guide
06 Jun 2014
The CIO cloud blueprint: A strategic planning guide
In this CIO Essential Guide, learn how to craft an enterprise cloud blueprint that supports your organization's software and infrastructure needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2014
Free IT templates for CIOs and technology managers
SearchCIO rounded up free IT templates from around the Web to help technology managers organize their IT departments, projects and service offerings. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Mar 2014
Out of the shadows: Rogue IT is becoming CIO business as usual
The consumerization of IT and increasing demands for business agility are forcing the evolution of rogue IT. How are CIOs responding? Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2014
Free project management template examples for strategic IT planning
These free project management template examples from around the Web provide project guidelines and strategic IT planning tools to CIOs and IT leaders. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Sep 2013
Free technology roadmap template examples for CIOs
These free technology roadmap templates and examples will clear up your organization's strategic vision, combining detail with overarching goals. Continue Reading
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Guide
03 Sep 2013
The history of cloud computing and what's coming next: A CIO guide
In this enterprise guide, learn about the history of cloud computing and how to successfully implement cloud technologies in your organization. Continue Reading
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Quiz
30 Jul 2013
IT service management and delivery: A quiz for CIOs
Is your IT organization doing all it can to improve user experience? Review our CIO coverage and take our quiz on IT service management and delivery. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2013
Free cost-benefit analysis template examples for CIOs
Check out this collection of free cost-benefit analysis examples to determine, in a systematic way, which decision or project is the most beneficial to your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2012
Free IT department budget template examples for strategic investments
Making strategic tech investments could help your business stay afloat. Take a look at these free IT department budget templates from around the Web. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Jun 2012
Millennials 101: Test yourself with our generational diversity quiz
As the Millennial generation enters the workforce, CIOs are balancing a lot of generational diversity. Test your knowledge about managing Millennials. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2011
How adopting an ITIL framework can lead to cost savings for business
An ITIL framework isn't easy, but it can drive huge cost savings. Learn how ITIL cost reduction strategies translate back to your business. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2011
The IT organization of the future: An enterprise within an enterprise
The IT organization of the future is shifting to become not only a business but also a part of an integrated business services organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Mar 2011
Seven categories for evaluating mobile device management products
Do you need a mobile device management product to control an employee-driven revolt against corporate-issued devices? Consider these MDM selection tips. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Dec 2010
Must-have ITSM tool features
When looking for an ITSM tool, audit the capabilities of the tool sets you have in place, and follow this check list of must-have features. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2010
Storage area network fundamentals: The right questions to ask
Will a storage area network be a good fit in your IT environment? Consult our guide to storage area network fundamentals, including how to evaluate your current setup and needs. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2010
Free sample gap analysis templates: Software, security, architecture
Learn how other organizations tackle gap analysis, from software projects to IT portfolio assessments, in this list of sample gap analysis templates. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Mar 2010
Don't skip ITIL Service Design: Questions, checklists to get started
ITIL Service Design sits between strategy and implementation -- and is often skipped by midmarket companies. Learn which questions and checklists can keep Service Design simple. Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2009
Gartner's top 10 strategic technologies for 2010
Gartner's list of technologies that bear examination during the next three years show an agile, mobile, secure enterprise that can spot early warning signs and predict trends. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Oct 2009
How to decide if changing technology vendors is worth the time, risk
The cost savings offered by a second-tier vendor may or may not be worth the risk and expense of migration. Here's how to decide when to make a switch. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2009
Software vendor evaluation criteria: Sample scorecard templates for IT projects
Need a hand in evaluating prospective vendors or managing your current crop? Here's a sampling of software vendor scorecards and requirements to help you create your own. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
17 Jul 2009
What is transparency, and how is it relevant to IT?
We’ve all heard about Obama’s promise for government transparency, but what about IT transparency? First, what is transparency? Transparency is basically defined as openness and accountability in ... Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jul 2009
Even with a PPM solution, IT project and portfolio challenges remain
A PPM solution can help you allocate resources among IT projects and calculate ROI, but it's no panacea for organizational issues. Here's why. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
07 May 2009
Adding a 'business downturn' clause to your telecom contracts
Telecom providers will do whatever it takes to keep your business, even in a business downturn. And that’s not just lip service. Did you know that you can insist on a “business downturn” contract ... Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2008
How to perform a cost/benefit analysis: Build a model, not a number
CIO Niel Nickolaisen recommends doing a cost/benefit analysis based on building a working model, not numbers. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Aug 2008
Database security: Who should have access?
The only users who should be allowed full access to any data store should be your system administrators. What about everybody else? Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Mar 2008
Computer recycling: Dangers for even the well intentioned
Recycling computers involves more than just passing them off to another company for cleaning. Due diligence requires CIOs to go even further to make sure data is eradicated. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2008
Software license agreements: Scope is key
Been through a usage audit lately? Here are some license terms to watch for so you'll be on the up and up. Continue Reading