If you''re a general manager or CFO, do you feel you''re
spending too much on IT or wishing you could get better returns
from your IT investments? If so, it''s time to examine what''s behind
this IT-as-cost mind-set.
In The Real Business of IT, Richard Hunter and George Westerman
reveal that the cost mind-set stems from IT leaders'' inability to
communicate about the business value they create-so CIOs get stuck
discussing budgets rather than their contributions to the
organization.
The authors explain how IT leaders can combat this mind-set by
first using information technology to generate three forms of value
important to leaders throughout the organization:
-Value for money when your IT department operates efficiently and
effectively
-An investment in business performance evidenced when IT helps
divisions, units, and departments boost profitability
-Personal value of CIOs as leaders whose contributions to their
enterprise go well beyond their area of specialization
The authors show how to communicate about these forms of value
with non-IT leaders-so they understand how your firm is benefiting
and see IT as the strategic powerhouse it truly is.