Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 26DEC11

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: information technology

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of hearing Vivek Kundra, the very first Chief Information Officer of the United States government, speak at Dell World 2011.

Kundra had a thought-provoking story to share of the need for innovative thinking and reinvention across the the U.S. government in terms of I.T. systems and solutions. [Please read this fascinating story in my Forbes.com guest blog post here.]

Michelle Bailey, Vice President at IDC, an industry analyst firm, offers “Kundra is a great example of how the future CIO needs to set a strategy and change the people, not just the technology.”

Vivek Kundra asked the tough questions that needed to be asked and took action. What tough questions are you asking to help you and your company thrive?

Thought for the week:

“Vision without execution is daydreaming.” – Bill Gates

What do you think? I welcome your blog comments!

___

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2011 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

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Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 05DEC11

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: information technology

John le Carré offered, “A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world.”

Often, I.T. professionals are too separated from business process owners and the actual problems the business process owners are attempting to solve using information technology.

If more I.T. professionals would simply go to where the work is–watch and experience it first hand–they would be adding value beyond belief and helping their organizations achieve greater effectiveness.

This is how I.T. and Chief Information Officers can help their organizations thrive.

[Note: Read my entire Forbes.com guest blog post here.]

Thought for the week:

“Expertise is only as good as the actions you take with it. What you do with it is up to you.” – Jay Abraham

What do you think? I welcome your blog comments!

___

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2011 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.

Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 31OCT11

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: business execution

I.T. is a critical enabler of businesses. There is, on occasion, friction between I.T. and business process owners about how to move forward to solve critical business challenges.

I recently interviewed four education Chief Information Officers in an effort to understand their culture and values and see if there is a contrast with what I have experienced in the private sector.Here are some best practices that will improve collaboration between I.T. and business teams:

• Business process owners would appreciate I.T. collaborating with them while working to minimize friction.
• Business process owners want I.T. to be part of the same team, not merely blocking and tackling the people who are responsible for day-to-day execution of a critical process.
• Business process owners want I.T. to get excited about solving real problems and spend a lot less energy pushing back on the business requirements.
• Business process owners want I.T. and their teams to win together.

If this culture of collaboration is engendered, everyone will thrive.

[Note: You can read my entire Fast Company blog post here.]

Thought for the week:

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci

What do you think? I welcome your blog comments!

___

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2011 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

Note:  To receive an email version of “Thank God It’s Monday” to start your week, please subscribe here.  I would very much appreciate your suggesting to others that they subscribe.

Privacy Statement:  Our subscriber lists are never rented, sold, or loaned to any other parties for any reason.