Courage, Mr. CIO
November 6, 2011In reply to a CIO forum post today, where the author suggested the top priority for most CIOs today is “not getting fired”. Below is my reply, copied into this post. I’d love comments on this, as I find that fear is the most common cause of paralysis, leading whole industries to stagnate.
My reply: “Actually, I think the CIO needs to risk it all, including risking getting fired. I am like a doctor who has a low opinion of the healthcare industry: for 20 years I have worked in an industry for which I have ever declining respect. Large software companies cause me to fail. Project management best practices prevent me delivering value to business. Aging workforce protects the status quo, thereby preventing adoption of better technologies. CIOs are chickens, afraid to take bold innovative approaches to the problems they face. Business is right in rolling their eyes “ugh, that same old IT story, again”.
Here’s my blog, a recent post, describing bold innovation, risking it all.http://wp.me/pxOmo-2E
Go watch “Revenge of the Electric Car” for some inspiration and courage. Remember: doing nothing will lead to getting fired.”
Great post Mark. I have felt the same way for a long time and was more often than not the odd man out in the IT group as things changed but IT failed to see it.
IT is it’s own worse enemy!