CIOs Should Get Real About Real Options Thinking In Their BT Plans And Messages

The combination of customer, market, and economic risks forces CIOs to think differently about their investments in business technology (BT). CIOs that focus solely on internal, technology-driven considerations, such as system performance and cost containment, will leave their organization ill-prepared to adapt to changing external conditions. Flexibility in the marketplace requires CIOs — and the business overall — to place greater emphasis on real options in the services, applications, and infrastructure elements that constitute BT. CIOs, therefore, must ensure that their investments include real options and their executive communications emphasize the value of options previously created and the need to maintain such investments in the future. Fortunately, most CIOs won't be starting from scratch. A suite of technology options is likely already in place, and, with the right storytelling tools, the business value these options bring to the organization is easily conveyed, paving the way for future similar investments and a firm better-prepared to exploit market opportunities and weather market downturns.