By Jason Bloomberg | Article Rating: |
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March 11, 2018 01:00 AM EST | Reads: |
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For most of the last decade, there has been a steady drumbeat of predictions about the demise of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Whether it was the rise of the cloud, the emergence of the Chief Digital Officer or the promise of artificial intelligence, there has been a chorus of people claiming that the CIO role would imminently become antiquated and unnecessary.
As you would expect, there was also a counter-chorus (made up mostly of IT executives) proclaiming the critical nature of the CIO role and why it was finally time for them to ascend to the top echelons of enterprise management and take their proverbial ‘seat at the table.'
And, of course, neither of these eventualities has really happened.
There are unquestionably instances in which each of these predictions has come true. There are a few organizations that have eliminated the CIO role and survived to tell the tale. And there are even more examples of CIOs who have successfully made the transition from IT executive to business leader and have expanded their roles to include corporate functions beyond IT.
But for the vast majority of organizations, there has been little to no change. The dearth of CIOs on the boards of public companies and the number of enterprise websites that don't even list their CIOs amongst their top executives are just a couple of prominent indicators of the stasis that remains.
This, however, may all change in 2018.
I believe that this may finally be the year that the CIO role ‘crosses the Rubicon,' leaving behind its traditional, IT-focused orientation. But I don't believe that either of the previous predictions of this outcome - fading into oblivion or rising to a business executive level - is correct.
Instead, I think this is the year that we will see the role of the CIO transformed into something altogether different.
The Old Guard is Gone
Before we get into why I think we're on the cusp of a complete re-imagining of the CIO role, let's address the reasons I believe we may have finally reached the tipping point.
The first reason is merely a matter of mathematics and timing. Since the forces of digital disruption began driving organizations into a period of radical transformation, there has been tremendous pressure on CIOs to transform their skills and perspectives so that they could lead their organizations into the future.
Many CIOs - particularly younger ones - jumped at the chance and undertook the arduous task of changing the way their organizations viewed and used technology. But many of these progressive IT executives hit an endless series of walls as they realized their organizations were not nearly as ready as they claimed for the upheaval that digital transformation would wreak.
For every CIO that jumped in head first, there were two or three others that crossed their arms, dug in their heels and paid just enough lip service to the requisite buzzwords to keep their jobs. Their lack of action and their demonstrated resistance to change, however, made it clear that they had no intention of leading any real transformation within their organizations.
It has taken some years for the less fortunate organizations employing these CIOs to come to grips with their reality and either wait for these executives to retire, move on, or to go through the unpleasant process of replacing them. But the good news is that, in my estimation, the clearing out of the old guard is mostly complete.
As I meet with IT executives at conferences or events, I almost universally find them to be progressive, thoughtful, and fully prepared to take their organizations into a bright new future. Few of them are willingly holding on to the relics of past operational models and architectures.
In fact, most of them lament that they have to do so much unwinding before they can get on with building the technology stack - and organization - of the future.
Frankly, it's exciting to see, and I believe is the first reason that we're about to turn the corner. As an industry, we have finally fielded the team we need to win this game.
We've Passed the Point of No Return
We have been in a period of so-called digital disruption for the past ten or fifteen years. While the media and industry pundits (us included) talk about disruption and the digital transformation response to it as if they be de rigueur, the reality is that most enterprise organizations have approached their transformational activities much more timidly.
As much as the CIO's executive counterparts may have been throwing around buzzwords, demanding to know why the organization was not yet "on the cloud," or generally expressing frustration that IT was hindering their ability to compete, the fact remained that these executives still saw technology as the job of IT.
While these business executives were complaining and lamenting, they were mostly going about their business, to the chagrin of those progressive CIOs, as they always had. They failed to see that digital transformation was not about IT, but was, in fact, a business transformation that would change everything about how they worked and functioned.
The second reason that we're at a tipping point is that I believe we have now crossed the digital transformation Rubicon. Non-IT executives have finally gotten the memo. They now understand the full business implications of digital transformation and, more importantly, are beginning to realize that they must radically transform their organizations, business models and how they apply technology as a result.
Critically, they also understand that there is no turning back. Like Julius Caesar in 49 BC, as he crossed the Rubicon river to make his way to Rome, business executives have realized that they have reached a point of no return and must continue on into a new and different future - one in which the old rules may not apply.
The Intellyx Take: The New CIO
These developments, when taken together, have set the table, so to speak, for the ascent and transformation of the CIO.
Enterprise organizations now have the progressive, change-minded leaders at the technology helm. They have come to terms with the full impact of digital transformation, what it means to the organization and have accepted that they must press forward. And they are realizing that they have done the ‘easy stuff' and now must buckle down and execute digital transformation for real.
These realizations will also lead them to another fact: that driving this full-throated transformation requires leaders who understand nearly every aspect of the business, intimately understand the technology itself, and who can work across the entirety of the enterprise functional domain to apply it holistically.
Moreover, these technology leaders must be able to rapidly assimilate the continually evolving and emerging technology landscape and then translate it into business advantage for their organizations - no easy task.
This is now a make or break moment for both CIOs and their organizations. Organizations must recognize that they will only thrive in the digital era with this type of leader as part of their core leadership team.
And it will be up to CIOs to seize this moment and finally take their rightful place in the enterprise. This is the year that it will all come together, one way or the other.
Copyright © Intellyx LLC. Intellyx publishes the Agile Digital Transformation Roadmap poster, advises companies on their digital transformation initiatives, and helps vendors communicate their agility stories. As of the time of writing, none of the organizations mentioned in this article are Intellyx customers.
DXWorldEXPO LLC, the producer of the world's most influential technology conferences and trade shows has announced the conference tracks for CloudEXPO | DXWorldEXPO 2018 New York.
DXWordEXPO New York 2018, colocated with CloudEXPO New York 2018 will be held November 11-13, 2018, in New York City.
Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with the introduction of DXWorldEXPO within the program. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools available that enable transformation if they plan to survive over the long term.
A total of 88% of Fortune 500 companies from a generation ago are now out of business. Only 12% still survive. Similar percentages are found throughout enterprises of all sizes.
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
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Speaking Opportunities ▸ Here
Sponsorship and Speaking Inquiries: [email protected].
2018 Conference Agenda, Keynotes and 10 Conference Tracks
DXWordEXPO New York 2018 and Cloud Expo New York 2018 agenda present 222 rockstar faculty members, 200 sessions and 22 keynotes and general sessions in 10 distinct conference tracks.
- Cloud-Native | Serverless
- DevOpsSummit
- FinTechEXPO - New York Blockchain Event
- CloudEXPO - Enterprise Cloud
- DXWorldEXPO - Digital Transformation (DX)
- Smart Cities | IoT | IIoT
- AI | Machine Learning | Cognitive Computing
- BigData | Analytics
- The API Enterprise | Mobility | Security
- Hot Topics | FinTech | WebRTC
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO 2018 New York cover all of these tools, with the most comprehensive program and with 222 rockstar speakers throughout our industry presenting 22 Keynotes and General Sessions, 200 Breakout Sessions along 10 Tracks, as well as our signature Power Panels. Our Expo Floor brings together the world's leading companies throughout the world of Cloud Computing, DevOps, FinTech, Digital Transformation, and all they entail.
As your enterprise creates a vision and strategy that enables you to create your own unique, long-term success, learning about all the technologies involved is essential. Companies today not only form multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures, but create them with built-in cognitive capabilities.
Cloud-Native thinking is now the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, as well as the public sector.
CloudEXPO is the world's most influential technology event where Cloud Computing was coined over a decade ago and where technology buyers and vendors meet to experience and discuss the big picture of Digital Transformation and all of the strategies, tactics, and tools they need to realize their goals.
FinTech Is Now Part of the DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO Program!
Financial enterprises in New York City, London, Singapore, and other world financial capitals are embracing a new generation of smart, automated FinTech that eliminates many cumbersome, slow, and expensive intermediate processes from their businesses.
Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 22nd CloudEXPO | DXWorldEXPO November 11-13, 2018 in New York City will find fresh new content in two new tracks called:
- FinTechEXPO
- New York Blockchain Event
which will incorporate FinTech and Blockchain, as well as machine learning, artificial intelligence and deep learning in these two distinct tracks.
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
Sponsorship Opportunities ▸ Here
Speaking Opportunities ▸ Here
Sponsorship and Speaking Inquiries: [email protected].
FinTech brings efficiency as well as the ability to deliver new services and a much improved customer experience throughout the global financial services industry. FinTech is a natural fit with cloud computing, as new services are quickly developed, deployed, and scaled on public, private, and hybrid clouds.
More than US$20 billion in venture capital is being invested in FinTech this year. DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO are pleased to bring you the latest FinTech developments as an integral part of our program.
DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO are accepting speaking submissions for this new track, so please visit Cloud Computing Expo for the latest information or contact us at [email protected]
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
Sponsorship Opportunities ▸ Here
Speaking Opportunities ▸ Here
Sponsorship and Speaking Inquiries: [email protected].
Download Slide Deck ▸ Here
Only DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO bring together all this in a single location:
Attend DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO. Build your own custom experience. Learn about the world's latest technologies and chart your course to Digital Transformation.
22nd International DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO, taking place November 11-13, 2018, in New York City, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world.
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
Sponsorship Opportunities ▸ Here
Speaking Opportunities ▸ Here
Sponsorship and Speaking Inquiries: [email protected].
Download Slide Deck: ▸ Here
Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterprises are using some form of XaaS - software, platform, and infrastructure as a service.
With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.
Every Global 2000 enterprise in the world is now integrating cloud computing in some form into its IT development and operations. Midsize and small businesses are also migrating to the cloud in increasing numbers.
Register for Full Conference "Gold Pass" ▸ Here (Expo Hall ▸ Here)
Sponsorship Opportunities ▸ Here
Speaking Opportunities ▸ Here
Sponsorship and Speaking Inquiries: [email protected].
Download Slide Deck: ▸ Here
Companies are each developing their unique mix of cloud technologies and services, forming multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures and deployments across all major industries. Cloud-driven thinking has become the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, and the public sector.
Sponsorship Opportunities
DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO are the single show where technology buyers and vendors can meet to experience and discus cloud computing and all that it entails. Sponsors of DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:
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Secrets of Our Most Popular Sponsors and Exhibitors ▸ Here
For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities, contact [email protected].
Sponsorship Opportunities ▸ Here
Download Slide Deck: ▸ Here
Speaking Opportunities
The upcoming 22nd International DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO November 11-13, 2018 in New York City, NY announces that its Call For Papers for speaking opportunities is now open.
Secrets of Our Most Popular Faculty Members ▸ Here
Submit your speaking proposal ▸ Here or by email [email protected].
Download Slide Deck: ▸ Here
About DXWorldEXPO LLC
DXWorldEXPO LLC is a Lighthouse Point, Florida-based trade show company and the creator of DXWorldEXPO - Digital Transformation Conference & Expo. The company produces and presents CloudEXPO, DevOpsSummit, FinTechEXPO - Blockchain Event, the world's most influential conferences and trade shows.
Published March 11, 2018 Reads 1,975
Copyright © 2018 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
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More Stories By Jason Bloomberg
Jason Bloomberg is a leading IT industry analyst, Forbes contributor, keynote speaker, and globally recognized expert on multiple disruptive trends in enterprise technology and digital transformation. He is ranked #5 on Onalytica’s list of top Digital Transformation influencers for 2018 and #15 on Jax’s list of top DevOps influencers for 2017, the only person to appear on both lists.
As founder and president of Agile Digital Transformation analyst firm Intellyx, he advises, writes, and speaks on a diverse set of topics, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, devops, big data/analytics, cybersecurity, blockchain/bitcoin/cryptocurrency, no-code/low-code platforms and tools, organizational transformation, internet of things, enterprise architecture, SD-WAN/SDX, mainframes, hybrid IT, and legacy transformation, among other topics.
Mr. Bloomberg’s articles in Forbes are often viewed by more than 100,000 readers. During his career, he has published over 1,200 articles (over 200 for Forbes alone), spoken at over 400 conferences and webinars, and he has been quoted in the press and blogosphere over 2,000 times.
Mr. Bloomberg is the author or coauthor of four books: The Agile Architecture Revolution (Wiley, 2013), Service Orient or Be Doomed! How Service Orientation Will Change Your Business (Wiley, 2006), XML and Web Services Unleashed (SAMS Publishing, 2002), and Web Page Scripting Techniques (Hayden Books, 1996). His next book, Agile Digital Transformation, is due within the next year.
At SOA-focused industry analyst firm ZapThink from 2001 to 2013, Mr. Bloomberg created and delivered the Licensed ZapThink Architect (LZA) Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) course and associated credential, certifying over 1,700 professionals worldwide. He is one of the original Managing Partners of ZapThink LLC, which was acquired by Dovel Technologies in 2011.
Prior to ZapThink, Mr. Bloomberg built a diverse background in eBusiness technology management and industry analysis, including serving as a senior analyst in IDC’s eBusiness Advisory group, as well as holding eBusiness management positions at USWeb/CKS (later marchFIRST) and WaveBend Solutions (now Hitachi Consulting), and several software and web development positions.
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