CIOs are stepping up as business innovators at long last

Research by Cutter* (the May 21st issue) indicates that the tide of progress seems to have started to turn. CIOs are not just relying on business leaders to set the direction and then advise on the technology that might help. They are not just reacting. They are starting to lead.

Over the last couple of years, the number of CIOs who see themselves as “key enablers for business innovation” has doubled to about 60%. The number who are reactive to business innovation has not changed much; it remains at about 30%. The difference lies in the number of those who don’t see business innovation as an important role for IT, and where IT is even seen as an impediment for business innovation.

But while CIOs may see themselves as key enablers, they still haven’t embraced a leadership role in “creating new opportunities for business innovation”.

I am an optimist. I believe the potential for technology to transform is immense. I also believe that if the current set of CIOs don’t step up they will be replaced – as CEOs realize they are being left behind.

* www.cutter.com/research.html







Gary Cokins, CPIM
(gary.cokins@sas.com; phone: 919-531-2012)
blogs.sas.com/content/cokins

Gary Cokins (Cornell University BS IE/OR, 1971; Northwestern University Kellogg MBA 1974) is an internationally recognized expert, speaker, and author in advanced cost management and enterprise performance and risk management systems. He is a Principal in business consulting involved with analytics-based enterprise performance management solutions with SAS, a global leader in business intelligence and analytics software. He began his career in industry with a Fortune 100 company in CFO and operations roles. He then worked 15 years in consulting with Deloitte, KPMG, and EDS. His two most recent books are Performance Management: Finding the Missing Pieces to Close the Intelligence Gap (ISBN 0-471-57690-5) and Performance Management: Integrating Strategy Execution, Methodologies, Risk, and Analytics (ISBN 978-0-470-44998-1). Mr. Cokins can be contacted at gary.
cokins@sas.com
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