?The CIO

What is Paradox

By Martha Heller

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“Operations vs. Strategy” Paradox1

You were hired to be strategic, but you spend

most of the time on operational issues.

“It is really tough to be strategic when your pants are on fire.”Ron Kifer, CIO, Applied Materials

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“Operations vs. Strategy” Paradox1

Video clip: Martha Heller on Why She WroteThe CIO Paradox: Battling the Contradictions of IT Leadership

Click image to play video

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“IT and the Business” Paradox2

IT is intimately involved in every facet of the business, yet is often considered separate and

removed from the business.

“IT and the Business” Paradox2

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“No one fully understands what IT does. So we are on an island.”Colleen Wolf, CIO, Ventura Foods

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Your staff is most comfortable with technology, but they must also possess communication skills and be

good with people.

“Talent” Paradox

“I would love to hire someone to do my hair, feed my children, manage my database, and drywall the basement. But workers don’t come like that.”Martha Heller

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“Futurist vs. Archivist” Paradox4

As CIO, you must envision the future while changing the past. This means deploying

emerging technologies while simultaneously upgrading legacy systems.

“Futurist vs. Archivist” Paradox4

vs“When people are asked to investment in something that doesn’t feel competitive, they resist. But if you cannot sell foundational improvements, you will layer complexity on top of legacy and make the mess worse.” Tom Murphy, CIO, University of Pennsylvania

“Corporate Board” Paradox5

“By turning a blind eye to IT, boards are ignoring one of the most key components of their chartered responsibility.”Bob DeRodes, CIO, The Home Depot

IT can make or break a company, but CIOs rarely serve on corporate boards.

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“Accountability vs. Ownership” Paradox

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You are accountable for the success of a project, but the business has to own it.

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“Accountability vs. Ownership” Paradox “Getting business partners

to do their part in implementing IT is like ‘pushing on a rope’.”Anonymous

Martha Heller’s Keynote Address:video clip from “Breaking The CIO Paradox.”

Click image to play video

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Cost vs. InnovationParadox7

The CIO is the steward of cost containment, yet must also innovate. This means having no room

for failure and allowing for failure all at the same time.

“Our job is to figure out how to stabilize the ‘run’ side of the business and then take those cost savings and reinvest them in the innovation.”Kim Hammonds, CIO, Boeing

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Cost vs. InnovationParadox7

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