Visioning with the Box

I've done a lot of visioning over the years - diverging and converging ... I like this vision box approach from the agile methodology and hope to give it a try in the near future. It could be a good way to involve all team members and create energy and momentum in the project initiation process. ...

... "The basic concept is straightforward: If your new product was marketed in a box, like cereal or consumer electronics, what would be the marketing copy on the box? What product features, benefits, and attributes would you highlight on the box that would attract shoppers and convince them to buy your product? " ...

Via TechRepublic: Define the project vision

IT Branding

While substance (project execution, operating discipline) is important, cultivating a personal brand completes the picture of the successful CIO and IT organization. ...

... "the idea of the personal brand of a chief information officer (CIO) was viewed as being as important as project delivery or operational effectiveness. " ...

Via Information World Review: CIOs

For reference: Tom Peters on Brand You, Via Fast Company: Brand You Survival Kit: "Brand You. Me Inc. It matters. ... "

Marketing IT Projects

It is never too late to prepare your IT success story. Showcase your successes, show how you have learned from project challenges, and make strong connections to the business performance where appropriate. While its better to have laid the foundation of your success story during good times, you will need that story now to position your enterprise and the IT organization to survive and thrive. ...

... "but it's no long enough to simply ensure that your department is aligned with the primary interests of the business: now you have to demonstrate that alignment and educate the rest of the organization as to the efficacy of your efforts. " ...

Via The CIO Weblog: Open your kimono

Alignment and Transparency Key to Info Tech Success

Marketing success stories, open dialogue about IT opportunities, and investment portfolio management techniques are some of the ways to raise the profile of the information technology organization to business leaders in the organization. ...

... "As a result of all these factors, senior executives at most companies have little desire to deal with IT and its role in their business and relegate this function to the CIO. In addition, many CEOs find the financial and business returns on their IT investments obscure and difficult to quantify ... " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Hidden Potential of IT

CIO Career: Vendor Network

Tips for those aspiring to the CIO role, such as use of branding and marketing. Leveraging your external networks, such as vendors, is good advice. ...

... "Your best salespeople are generally well-connected, he says. They typically have better networks than you do and for them, there is nothing better they can do than find an old customer a new home. " ...

Via InterGovWorld: CIO job

IT Strategy: Second Life to Extend Reach

Diageo explores the use of Second Life as channel to reach its target market. ...

... "Robin Dargue, chief information officer and business process director at Diageo, explained that the company was attempting to stay relevant to the next generation of consumers, which he branded the digital natives. " ...

Via Computerworld UK: Diageo uses Second Life

Stay Visible and Relevant

Raise expectations, market your capabilities, and educate the organization to stay visible and relevant to your enterprise. ...

... "The limited expectations CEOs have of IT leadership threaten to stunt IT's contributions, resulting in an IT organization that may be averse to taking risks or even rising to the level of visibility. " ...

Via Computerworld: Expectations of IT