Cyber Security
heads to lead and tell them what is needed. IT heads prefer to wait for directions, and when they do engage, they talk in terms that their CEO might not appreciate. “We have to do cloud, big data, analytics, we got to have this mobile app, our storage and networks need an upgrade, etc”. We probably have all but 30 seconds of the CEO’s attention. Having said the above, this is not true of all companies or leaders we have met. There are technology savvy CEOs, there are IT functions that report in to the CEO, there are CIOs and IT heads, who are business savvy and are able to engage well with their colleagues across function. There are CEOs who understand how to leverage technology to the advantage of the business. He knows what he wants and if his IT head cannot meet his need, he replaces him with someone who can. What could be done to strengthen ties and form lasting relationships between the CEO and his “CIO”. This is a symbiotic relationship. CEOs who fail to appreciate how technology can help their business WILL be disrupted. CIOs who fail to engage with their CEOs will have their careers disrupted. There are companies that recognise that CIOs need to play a more strategic role. In fact some have started to have a COO of IT to look after operational aspects of IT, freeing up the CIO to concentrate on engaging the business and working on strategic business initiatives. Whether this will become the future of IT functions depend very much on how the CIOs engage their CEOs.
To the CEO • • •
Take interest in technology and learn from competition how technology can be harness to innovate; Relook your relationship with your CIO and begin to re-engage; The world is evolving at such great technology speed, and there are many new startups with technologies that are disrupting the traditional ways of doing things.
Get involved and work with these startups for ideas; • Leverage your IT to check for new ideas; • Develop clear business goals for your IT to achieve; • Where CIOs lack the business or finance skills, groom them with training.
To the CIO (Head of IT) • •
• • • • • •
IT needs to start being creative by thinking outside the box; Always have an inquisitive mind to learn soft skills and key skills needed to engage with your colleagues. This includes communications, facilitation, finance and presentation skills; Be active and join professional associations to network and practice your engagement skills; Join the Boards of companies to practice facilitation and putting your skills of influence to practice; Be open to learn from IT leaders who have done well; Pick up the sales skills from your vendors; Be humble, just as how your vendor sales reps are treating you; Learn the language of business. Many CEOs does not know how to communicate with CIOs as they do not
“We have to do cloud, big data, analytics, we got to have this mobile app, our storage and networks need an upgrade, etc”. We probably have all but 30 seconds of the CEO’s attention.” understand nor have the patience to learn ‘geek speak’. CEOs are busy people, and the ability to be concise and piece it all together to demonstrate business value will put the CIO as a trusted partner of the CEO. With most businesses going through a digital transformation, there has never been a better time for CIOs to prove his value as a business leader. He needs to be able to execute all the points listed above and more. The tasks might be daunting, but the rewards and satisfaction that come will be outsized. Authored By Glen Francis President, IDeationEdgeAsia.org President, CIOAcademyAsia.org Vice President, ITMA.org.sg A senior executive with achievements in leading global technology departments, large scale corporate transformation initiatives, helping start-up companies, and being in involved in social enterprises. Well-travelled and well versed with the management of teams across various continents. Ng Tiong Gee SVP, IT, Engineering and Estate Management, Resort World Sentosa. Independent Board of Director, YellowPages Ltd Lead Independent Board of Director, Pacific Radiance Ltd An accomplished C and Board level executive with proven success in building and leading high performance teams across multiple geographies. A strategic thinker that is versatile in playing multiple roles at large and small corporations. Successfully integrated two of the largest independent semiconductor Assembly and Test providers in the role of Lead Integration Manager. CIO Academy Asia At CIO Academy Asia, we enable ICT professionals to gain relevant skills and knowledge they need to advance their careers. We believe success comes when you have the right mentor guiding you. At our academy, we share relevant, reallife industry collaborations. We impart practical knowledge of the inner workings of an ICT environment, which will prepare you to be the next ICT industry leader. Our team of experienced CIO-grade lecturers come from established and listed companies. Our seminars are created with their input, resulting in structured presentations complemented with sensible material. This allows every participant to gain the “other’ perspective, how one can be an ICT leader, with the modern proficiency and skills to navigate the ever changing global environment.
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