From In The Business of Technology
Paul Coby is one of the most successful and admired CIO of our times. He was instrumental in launching a number of innovative passenger friendly technologies at British Airways. Paul has been credited with launching a number of “Airline industry first” applications such as Online Booking, Online Check-in and recently mobile boarding pass for British Airways. And this while reducing the cost of IT Operations by 60% over a period of 10 years.
So when the invite of La Fosse Event featuring him arrived, I was keen to attend. It was a high quality event as previous La Fosse events have been. Paul’s presentation revolved around key concepts from his book, “50 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Becoming a CIO”. Essentially it was a “Lessons Learnt” from the practiotioner on the essentials of being a CIO. The session was interactive, complete with anecdotes based on his rich experience and was followed by valuable Q&A session. Some of the key concepts which Paul shared were;
So when the invite of La Fosse Event featuring him arrived, I was keen to attend. It was a high quality event as previous La Fosse events have been. Paul’s presentation revolved around key concepts from his book, “50 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before Becoming a CIO”. Essentially it was a “Lessons Learnt” from the practiotioner on the essentials of being a CIO. The session was interactive, complete with anecdotes based on his rich experience and was followed by valuable Q&A session. Some of the key concepts which Paul shared were;
How to Approach the CIO Role?
- Enjoy being a CIO
- Plan time strategically
- Don’t be afraid of technology
- Operational performance matters so focus on it
- There are no IT projects only business projects
- Understand your industry and love itAppoint IT business partner who will champion business
- Communicate Communicate – Project IT performance across business
- Benchmark your performance
- Become non-executive director in other business to understand board expectations
How to Keep the IT function Running Smoothly
· Keep IT simple
· Be visible as IT function and celebrate success
· Enter business transformation space
· Eliminate shadow it dept in business
· Become champion of business simplification
· Innovate
· Really be part of your company
How to Push Boundaries of the Role
· Know where IT should be: Leading edge, Fast follower and Commodity
· Use your authority and power as a CIO
· Understand your CEO’s business strategy and support it
· Develop supportive relations with fellow directors
· Spend time with board members
· Reduce cost of IT year on year
· Work closely with HR, Finance
How to Manage Teams Effectively
· Develop direct reports
· Ensure you have genuine technology experts in your team
· Value PA and core team
· Grow project and program management skills
· Recognise importance of Operations team and people
· Get IT organisation structure right
How to Ensure Success in Execution
· Personally review projects
· Subdivide team into subgroups
· Have clear objectives
· Look after pennies
· Monitor audit reports
· Reward who delivers
· Suppliers mater
· Enforce technology standards – They will reduce complexity, hence cost and improve speed to delivery
· Develop win-win
In addition to this Paul also talked about a few evolving aspects of the job such as;
Future Trends to watch out for a CIO
· Computerisation – Everything is an APP and easier to use
· Connectivity – Everyone connected: Things, People, Processes
· Convergence – Above plus location and things awareness
· Collaborate – Tools for us to connect work and pay and in between things
· Cloud – Commodatisation of IT
What will see a CIO through in 2011?
· Focus on real customers
· Getting onto business strategic agenda
· Loving the technology
· Cutting he cost
· Managing suppliers
· Leading your people
Many thanks and well done to La Fosse team for pulling together another high quality event. Simon if I may suggest, no harm in starting events management company in addition to core recruitment business! 🙂 Already looking forward to next event!
