Strategic IT: Best Practices for Managers and Executives

Chapter 4

Real-World Case Studies

This chapter presents case studies that exemplify chief information officers (CIOs) that have enabled their organizations to truly use information technology (IT) as a strategic driver while at the same time providing the necessary supporter functions. Thus, these cases represent stories of how these CIOs have approached the challenges of the job and have sustained a successful track record. The cases were conducted using personal one-on-one interviews; in one case (Cushman & Wakefield) we were able to interview other C-suite colleagues, which provided a view from those at the same level as the CIO.

The interview protocol was made up of nine major questions:

1. History of how the CIO obtained the position with his/her company.

2. What critical ways do they add value to their organization?

3. How is the way they add value in their current position different from their previous roles or jobs?

4. How were their approaches different in lesser roles?

5. Articulation of two or three critical roles and what triggered changes in management strategy.

6. What is the most important competency for a CIO?

7. Attributes of the most successful CIO they know.

8. Attributes of the most ineffective CIO they know.

9. Insights of the future.

Our case studies covered six different types of corporate CIOs:

1. BP (oil and gas)

2. Covance (drug development services)

3. Cushman & Wakefield (real estate)

4. Merck (pharmaceutical)

5. Procter & Gamble (branded products ...