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CIO Insight: 2021 and Value Contribution for Technology Leaders

CIO Professional Network members weigh in on value contributions for the next year.
H. Michael Burgett
Contributing Writer

Like every good amusement park ride, the fun must come to an end sometime. The ups, the downs, the twists and turns, our decision at that point is to either get on the ride again or to head to the parking lot.

For CIOs and associated technology leaders, this year, in an understatement, has been an interesting one. We have been called on to pivot, repurpose, and lead in ways that no one could have predicted.

While the ride is not yet complete, we know that we will be called upon to continue our recent resolve, seek new paths and redefine the traditional value equations that we deliver for our respective organizations.

How will you lead your team in the coming year? What value will you bring?

Recently, The National CIO Review polled our 2000+ member CIO Professional Network on the criteria that will be used to measure overall IT value for their organization in 2021.

It is no surprise that the number one measurement for IT value as reported by technology leaders for the new year is Digital Transformation. More than a buzzword, forward thinking CIOs understand that we will be measured by the transformation that we ultimately bring to the business. And more than simply change for change’s sake, this includes the associated Impact on Revenue/Top Line Growth.

Furthermore, we must build a mindset of innovation within our teams as reflected in Product or Service Innovation. In short, we are being called to radically change how we deliver services and internal products throughout our organization.

But yet, we can’t take our eye off the ball for sure. Business Operations Stability/Continuity was reported as a Top Five element of value as well. Surely a thoughtful recognition by technology leaders that without sustained operations, we will not have the credibility or platform from which to transform and innovate.

While not yet the Top Five, the Next Five reported items as key measurements for technology organizational value are equally important. Remote Worker Enablement is high on the list. The debate may continue on whether the radical transformation toward dispersed teams that was an absolute necessity will become a permanent shift. However we know that enabling our workforce from wherever they sit will continue as a priority.

Mitigation of Cybersecurity Incidents are on the mind of all executives across the C-Suite and technology leaders recognize our efforts in this sector will continue to be of upmost importance. CIOs and their CISO counterparts must reinvest and rethink their overall security and risk strategies.

Delivery is stressed again here as aligning our organizations to bring both internal products and external offerings in a Faster Time to Market while ensuring External Customer Satisfaction is equally important.

By all means, the members of the CIO Professional Network have reported an exhaustive list of key priorities and elements on which IT value will be measured. One must consider this list along with the final item reported as important, achieving Expense Reduction.

Simply put, CIOs and associated technology leaders are being called to do more. We must innovate, transform, drive revenue and customer satisfaction, while judiciously defending our flank from threats and with a strong consideration toward the investment required to sustain our operations.

It is no small task, yet we are battle tested and ready.

Perhaps as we move forward we can draw inspiration from American Actress, Gina Gershon, who offers:

My favorite part of a roller-coaster ride is when you are going up and you are slightly scared and really excited. You don’t know what’s coming next but you know it’s going to be good. If you can’t handle it, go on the carousel.

As technology leaders, 2021 offers us new turn, perhaps another twist.

Let’s enjoy the ride!

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