How To - CIO as a Service

Whether you think your requirements for technology are as simple as creating a Facebook page or as complex as a customer relationship management system, there is no escaping technology - like it or not, your business needs it. 

Too often, businesses fall into the trap of what I call "demand and supply" technology; the business identifies a requirement and a technology provider delivers.  The result is usually disappointment because after the technology is in place, nothing materially changes. Effectively, technology for technology's sake.

What businesses really need is a strategic approach to technology adoption; this is the role of a CIO.

The CIO evaluates, plans, implements and manages ICT to better enable the business to deliver on their goals.  The CIO also manages the daily operations of the ICT department including traditional business as usual ICT functions.

So, the question is - how to achieve the results of a CIO without the cost?

The answer - combine a part time allocation of a capable resource with a proven methodology for business planning. 

We call it "CIO as a Service".

Our CIO as a Service methodology includes frameworks to help:

1. Develop and align to the Organisation Strategy
   1. Where are we going?
   2. Where are we now?
   3. How do we get there?
2. Map the Organisation Values and Guiding Principles - This defines the "higher purpose", what the organisation stands for and how ICT is relevant. This shapes the organisation culture, enabling employees to feel empowered, motivated and rewarded whilst also establishing the organisation's brand and reputation.
3. Develop the ICT Roadmap - This is a subset of the Strategy (How do we get there?) and is guided by the Organisation Values and Guiding Principles. It defines the ICT plan to get from where the organisation is to where it wants to be and is the ICT blueprint to achieve the organisation's higher purpose. 
4. Implement a suitable Change Program - This compares the way things are currently done versus the way things should be done and then maps out how the change will occur.