Straight to the Top: Becoming a World-Class CIO
- 3h 52m
- Gregory S. Smith
- John Wiley & Sons (US)
- 2006
Preparing for the role of chief information officer (CIO) takes careful planning, strategy, and knowledge: What does a CEO look for in a CIO? What is the difference between and CIO and a CTO? How do you learn the business and build key relationships? Straight to the Top: Becoming a World-Class CIO is an essential guide to help information technology (IT) and business professionals recognize the qualities necessary to attain the role of first-time CIO and strategically plan their career moves. This vital road map for success offers a rare view, from the executive recruiter’s perspective, of the traits top search firms are looking for in CIO candidates.
Becoming a CIO requires a solid skill set from the candidate, including significant technical proficiency, business acumen, and an exceptional ability to communicate meaningfully. Most importantly, the CIO’s success is measured in an ability to decode IT into usable ideas and solutions that work in tandem with the goals of the business. Straight to the Top expertly coaches aspiring CIOs on building up these requisite skills with “insider information” from leading CIOs and author Gregory Smith’s own observations throughout his twenty years of experience working in the IT field—most recently, as a CIO.
Useful to academic institutions with degrees and programs in information systems, Straight to the Top equips CIO candidates with a straightforward course of action to the corner office in becoming a world-class CIO.
About the Author
Gregory S. Smith is the Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Information Technology at the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. He has published several articles, including “Talking at the Top of the World” in CIO magazine, along with a variety of technology topics in eWeek and LAN Times. He was recognized as one of the top CIOs in the area of resourcefulness by CIO magazine and has given a variety of public presentations on the topic of information technology at conferences, including the Marcus Evans CIO 2004 Conference and the SAS M2005 Data Mining Conference. Mr. Smith also serves as an adjunct faculty member at The Johns Hopkins University in the School of Professional Studies Business and Education graduate program.
In this Book
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Straight to the Top—Becoming a World-Class CIO
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Key IT Skills to Have
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Methodologies, Projects, and IT Change Management
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IT Standards and Governance
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Learn the Business and Build Key Relationships
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Effective Communication Skills and Styles
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What Executive Recruiters Are Looking For
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Building the Right Network
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Vendor and Sports Management
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Contract Negotiation and Financial Management
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Risk/Reward and Knowing When to Jump
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The Role of the CIO— Enabler and Visionary
