Great companies are driven by great business leaders. That leadership expertise must also extend to the key operations areas of the company, including the company's Information Technology. Technology can provide tremendous value and a competitive advantage when executed effectively, but it can also be a huge risk and a very costly mistake when there are missteps. It's imperative that a company has the right, seasoned technology leadership expertise engaged to ensure they are receiving sound technology guidance, pursuing the right technology strategy, executing the proper course of action. Don't be misledToo often, companies do recognize the need for sound technology guidance and leadership, but unfortunately they engage the wrong technology resource. Misled, scenario 1: A technical support company that provides basic PC support/repairs, software coding or other basic tech resources for your company, and falsely claims that could ALSO provide a "Technology Leader or vCIO" for your company, and sends you a woefully, unqualified techie for the role. While this person maybe knowledgeable about PC repairs or coding an app, they are NOT the right expert to help you craft the optimal IT Strategy and chart the right plan of action for your business. You wouldn't engage an Accounts Payable clerk to be your CFO, so don't accept an inexperienced techie for your CIO role. Solution: Check their resume/bio. If they don't have multiple experiences as a successful Chief Information Officer, and track record of excellent results, they aren't the right expert. Insist on a proven expert with extensive, hands-on CIO experience. Misled, scenario 2: A prominent national consulting firm sends out a Partner for the sales pitch, but then sends an inexperienced "consultant" with little to no real-world experience to do the actual work. Solution: Your business doesn't need a rookie consultant with the mega-firm's generic theories, you need a proven technology leadership expert with hands-on technology strategy experience to carefully tailor the right technology plans for your specific business needs. Check the resume/bio of the professional that will be onsite working with your company, and insist on the right expertise. For credible advise and the optimal results, you should expect your technology expert to have credible, hands-on experience themselves. "The only source of real knowledge is experience" |
AuthorMark Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer at Xtrii. He is a 10x CIO, global technology advisor and business leader. He has received global awards and recognition for excellence in technology and innovation. Archives
April 2020
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