CIO as CEO

Is the CIO as CEO a possibility? I would say yes, if the CIO takes the following steps:

Step 1 – Be clear on his value proposition.

Step 2 – Start charging for the service. Even if the currency is notional.

Step 3 – Direct their limited ‘service-love’ to those who appreciate the IT function’s value proposition.

Step 4 – Appoint a CFO of Information. It’s their job to sweat value from the organisation’s data warehouse (aka big data thing).

Step 5 – Be obsessed with service from an emotional and not just process perspective.

Step 6 – Appoint an IT manager. Their job is to provide the services the IT function offers today.

Step 7 – Now the CIO can focus their energies on thinking about the services they will ‘sell’ tomorrow, which in turn will improve the strategic relevance of both the CIO and the IT function.

The CIO as CEO is a possibility. They just need to enter the 7 steps programme!