Computing & IT
February 2008
Creating the Ultimate Corporate Strategy for Information Technology
Ian is a Chief Information Officer (CIO) who is about to go on a journey of
change - whether he likes it or not. He will be expected to explore,
challenge and radically recast the complex, often hostile relationships that can
exist between a business and the people in its Information Technology (IT)
department. On the way, Ian, his Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and other key stakeholders, experience a transformation in how a
business needs to think about the value of its IT people and the work that they
do. This results in some truly groundbreaking innovations in the scope and
contribution of Ian's role as CIO, the people that work for him and the strategy
that he leads.
Watch the characters in this extraordinary business novel as they meet the
challenge, struggle and grow. Share in Ian's transformation, and join the author
in observing key messages as the adventure unfolds.
Part entertaining novel and part enlightening textbook - FruITion takes
the reader through a discovery process revealing indispensable messages about
the next generation of strategies for Information Technology.
- Jeremy Hall, Managing Director, IRM UK Strategic IT Training
FruITion brings vividly to life the issues of being a CIO in today's
corporate world and how IT, when properly integrated into the objectives of a
business can drive massive value creation. His insights into how to win the
engagement war and bring technology strategies alive for the non technical are
absolutely spot on.
- Steve Adams, COO and Managing Director for Card Services, Euronet Worldwide
The modern CIO is to be seen as part of the business rather than a
service provider to the business. Chris Potts is at the forefront of thinking
that will put us all there if we act on his inspiration.
- David Brown, CIO of Scottish WaterMore from the author, Chris PottsThe debate over the CIO
role, and about the extent to which it should be about business or technology,
is taking place in an increasing vacuum of strategic context. Some CIOs have
abandoned strategy altogether, while others persevere with a traditional IT
Strategy founded in the mindset of the mainframe era. Meanwhile, business
managers and staff continue to develop their knowledge of technology and
understanding of how to exploit it. There seems to be a presumption that the
next-generation strategic purpose of the CIO will be an incremental step on from
what has gone before - significant, maybe, but still incremental. What if the
CIO's new strategic context is not incremental but disruptive, requiring a very
different mindset and skillset? And, most crucially, what if the corporate
strategists - rather than the CIO community - are the ones deciding what context
is? Their offer to the CIO: you can become one of the corporate strategists
like us, but not with your traditional scope and approach to strategy. What
does that offer look like and what does it mean for incumbent CIOs and the
people who work for them?
Chris Potts works with executives and CIOs in industry-leading companies around the world, formulating and executing the new generation of corporate strategies for exploiting IT. He delivers public seminars that are founded on his own breakthrough work with clients, and has provided training to some of the worlds leading consultancies.
