Leadership Insight

Leadership Insights of the BTM Institute provide invaluable management know-how on a variety of business technology management issues related to Agile Enterprises, Sustained Innovation, Extended Enterprises, Governance, Efficiency, Growth, Shared Services, Sustainable Socio-Economic Strategy, and more. These insights are the expert voices of senior executives, leading academics, and thought leaders around the globe.

Featured Leader

VC Managing Director Talks About How Enterprise CIOs Influence Investment Portfolio Decisions

The dot.com days of investing hundreds of millions of dollars in startups with the expectation of raking in billions from IPOs colored the venture capital industry. However, today's venture capitalists don't have any plans to repeat the past mistakes. With investment dollars being at an all time premium, venture capitalists need to go beyond the normal due diligence to find those emerging companies that can, one to three years down the line, successfully fill the information technology needs of large enterprises.

Zurich Financial CIO Talks About Bringing Technology and Business Closer

When Michael Paravicini joined Zurich Financial Services in 2003 as the new Chief Information Technology Officer, he certainly had his work cut out for him. He had to spearhead a move to examine how a highly decentralized, locally based staff of 7,700 professionals, including 30 CIOs, could better respond to the company's global demand needs. Each year, the Swiss-based Zurich Financial Services, one of the world's largest business and personal line insurance companies, writes about $50 billion in premiums. The company's 60,000 employees service customers in 150 different countries throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin American.

District of Columbia CTO Talks About the Payoff of Smart Technology Investments

In May 2007, Mayor Fenty appointed Vivek Kundra to serve as the Chief Technology Officer for the District of Columbia. Kundra oversees an IT staff of 700 people, a $75 million annual IT operating budget, and a $121 million budget for capital IT projects. Working with Fenty, Kundra has the challenge of deciding what technology investments to make, and then how to leverage those investments to fully enable the city, its employees, and its citizens.

C. K. Prahalad Talks About Business Models Driving the New Age of Innovation

The rise of consumer demand, the power of the individual, and the universal dependence on global networks could eventually alter the way the entire world does business. Think about it! Today's consumers don't have to buy a car at their local car dealership. They can source the Web to get the best deal on their dream car. By doing a small amount of online research, software developers in countries outside of the U.S. can easily connect with hiring executives at emerging U.S. technology companies. Even Asian organic tea growers looking to expand their markets in the West can easily search the Web for upscale teahouses in major U.S. cities.

Eastern Mountain Sports CIO Talks About the Convergence of IT and Business Across the Enterprise

Many CIOs find themselves stuck in an IT alignment trap. They constantly have to demonstrate the value their role serves and to make sure technology works well within their businesses. They have a hard time measuring and quantifying the value of IT and how it affects the entire business.

Chevron CIO Talks About the Challenges of Getting the Right Strategy Mix for One of the World's Largest IT Shops

Since becoming CIO in 2003, Gary Masada has been on a mission to carry out a strategy to centralize and standardize many aspects of technology operations through a program called Global Information Link (GIL), which has returned about $200 million to the company. In the meantime, he focuses on achieving operational excellence, making constant improvements on all products and services delivered daily to customers, and managing a five-year strategic roadmap.

National Grid CIO Talks About How IT Will Carry Out the Company's Global Strategy

Most large electric and gas utility companies in the U.S. operate regionally. However, one $16.6 billion utility plans to be a global powerhouse. Founded in 1990, National Grid plc, a U.K.-based utility company, has grown by acquiring local and regional power companies in U.S., primarily in the Northeast. Companies such as New England Power Co. and Massachusetts Electric Company comprise the $8.2 billion National Grid USA, a subsidiary of the U.K. parent. In 2007, National Grid plc made its most aggressive U.S. acquisition by paying $7 billion for KeySpan, a major U.S. gas and electric producer.

Author and Management Consultant Talks About How Shared Services Are Mining for New Corporate Gold

For almost a decade now, Barbara Quinn’s, book, Shared Services: Mining for Corporate Gold, has been the most authoritative resource for companies looking to cut costs and improve efficiencies by consolidating IT, finance, and HR staff functions into a global organization. The book includes vignettes about 75 shared services organizations.

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