Gartner’s advice on what CIOs should STOP DOING in 2007 

  7. Returning savings from cost efficiencies
  8. Treating IT governance as procedure
  9. Obsessing about the minutiae of technology

CIOs have become masters at managing and reducing IT costs. While sometimes essential, Mr Mahoney warned it has become damaging to longer term strategies for growth and leads to under-investment in infrastructure.
He said, “We recommend that CIOs tag savings from one area, for direct application in another. Be specific; ‘savings made from server consolidation will be used to upgrade sales force laptops in quarter three’. Start reporting regularly on business value delivered for completed projects and make simplification a mantra. This isn't the same as cutting IT costs, it means redesigning business processes for less complex and expensive systems.”
Mr Raskino added, “CIOs also need to lead by example and stop the organisation repeatedly discussing technology minutiae. All the noise around Microsoft Vista is a good example. Make your decision about a technology and then stop debating it. Too many IT organizations waste energy in endless discussion loops, distracting attention from far more important issues.”

Garner’s advice on what CIOs should learn in 2007 

  10. Get 'hands on' with new trend-leading technologies

Immediate priorities often prevent IT leaders from taking time to experience new trend-leading technologies for themselves. This often means they can't create the concrete business benefits that these imaginative possibilities stimulate. Mr Mahoney highlighted the following technologies to get 'hands-on' with in 2007:

• 3D printing
• Social information analysis tools
• Newer high-level programming languages
• Virtual communities

Mr Raskino added, “To avoid getting hijacked in meetings and corridors, CIOs need to form their own view of these emerging technologies”.
In summary he said: “Just like losing weight, giving up smoking and reviewing your pension – there are some important things in IT leadership without deadlines that never quite seem to get done. Set them as 2007 resolutions before it’s too late.”

Further details on Gartner’s recommended trend-leading technologies to get 'hands-on' in 2007

3D printing
This is not new, but the technology has been advancing in quality over the last few years and printer costs have fallen substantially. They build real physical versions of 3D computer designs layer by layer in materials like ABS plastic.

Social information analysis tools
The next big wave of productivity gains will come from improving the efficiency of non-routine, knowledge work such as discovery, innovation, collaboration, leading and learning. Many online systems have supported simple aggregation and sharing of content. Now, tools which analyse those social interactive processes and generate second level insight are starting to evolve.

Newer high-level programming languages
Attempts to make programming languages easier to learn, simpler to use and more powerful in their features continue. Gartner believes it is important to know what the new generation is being introduced to and what some of the more advanced end-users in the organisation can get their hands on.

Virtual communities
These are already familiar to many young people in developed countries. They are not just games, but increasingly relate to social, business, political and entertainment environments. Virtual worlds in themselves are becoming big business. Examples of communities to explore:
www.secondlife.com
www.warcraft.com.


http://www.gartner.com