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Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value Gartner Edition

by Richard Hunter (Author), George Westerman (Author)

4.5 123 ratings

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If you're a general manager or CFO, do you feel you're spending too much on IT or wishing you could get better returns from your IT investments? If so, it's time to examine what's behind this IT-as-cost mind-set.

In The Real Business of IT, Richard Hunter and George Westerman reveal that the cost mind-set stems from IT leaders' inability to communicate about the business value they create-so CIOs get stuck discussing budgets rather than their contributions to the organization.

The authors explain how IT leaders can combat this mind-set by first using information technology to generate three forms of value important to leaders throughout the organization:

-Value for money when your IT department operates efficiently and effectively

-An investment in business performance evidenced when IT helps divisions, units, and departments boost profitability

-Personal value of CIOs as leaders whose contributions to their enterprise go well beyond their area of specialization

The authors show how to communicate about these forms of value with non-IT leaders-so they understand how your firm is benefiting and see IT as the strategic powerhouse it truly is.

ISBN-10

1422147614
ISBN-13

978-1422147610
Edition

Gartner
Publisher

Harvard Business Press
Publication date

October 20, 2009
Language

English
Dimensions

6.1 x 1 x 9.3 inches
Print length

218 pages
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Hunter is Group Vice President and Gartner Fellow in Gartner Research, a division of Gartner, Inc., the world's largest technology research firm. George Westerman is a research scientist at MIT Sloan School of Management's Center for Information Systems Research (MIT CISR), which Ziff Davis named the world's "most influential IT academic research center." They are coauthors of the award-winning book IT Risk: Turning Business Threats Into Competitive Advantage.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvard Business Press; Gartner edition (October 20, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1422147614
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1422147610
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.1 x 1 x 9.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #548,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #260 in Information Management (Books)
- #1,571 in Business & Finance
- #15,439 in Unknown

Customer Reviews:
4.5 123 ratings

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Richard Hunter
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Richard Hunter is vice president and Gartner Fellow at Gartner, Inc., where his recent work has focused on matters of interest to CIOs. Hunter is the author of "World Without Secrets: Business, Crime and Privacy in the Age of Ubiquitous Computing" (Wiley&Sons, NYC, 2002), “IT Risk: Turning Business Threats Into Competitive Advantage” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2006), and “The Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value” (Harvard Business Press, Boston, 2009), the latter two works with co-author George Westerman. He is in much demand as a speaker and advisor to CIOs.
Mr. Hunter was elected a Gartner Fellow in 2003. He holds a bachelor's degree in music from Harvard University. He is a world-class harmonica player who continues to compose and perform; his first book, “Jazz Harp” (Oak Publications, NYC) has been in continuous print since 1980, and is the world’s best-selling method for jazz and rock harmonica players.
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George Westerman
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George is a Research Scientist with the MIT Sloan Initiative on the Digital Economy. His research and teaching focus on digital technology leadership and innovation. An award-winning author of three books and dozens of other contributions, he helps senior executives drive new competitive advantage through technology.
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4.5 out of 5

123 global ratings

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D. Hurdelbrink

Well-Considered Advice on What CIOs Can Deliver

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014

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This clear, short work is one of the most insightful books on the role of CIOs, and I.T. organizations in general, I have read.

The I.T. organization often struggles with its identity, disdained by other functional groups in an enterprise and defensive about its contributions. To bridge this gulf, the authors prescribe a model that is simple and precise. The CIO, and the CIO's organization, delivers value in only two ways: positively affecting either business processes or business decision making. That's it. Refining the model a bit, the authors separate I.T.'s customers into two groups: those external to the organization and those inside the organization. This produces a classic 2x2 quadrant, with customer types on one axis and the value types on another. All technology-driven, or technology-enabled, initiatives that produce real value to the business or enterprise will fit naturally into some section of this matrix.

I heartily recommend that all I.T. leaders read this book. It resonates with empathy, understanding and truth about how the I.T. function regards itself, and what it can contribute to build value for an enterprise. It can help lead you to better strategy, better plans, better decisions and better relationships with your peers and superiors.

2 people found this helpful

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Rem

Good read for every upcoming Tech leader

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2022

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Good read, provided a different perspective to everything IT

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Douglas B

Invaluable guidebook for the CIO or aspirational CIO

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2012

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This book is a tremendous resource for IT execs who may be caught up in daily slogging through IT operational issues, or those who are looking to take a more strategic approach to IT. It approaches the idea of *value* from a variety of angles. The authors introduce us to the concept of "value traps" and how to change our thinking to avoid them. They also encourage CIOs to evolve from being just the budget-minded "Cheap Information Officer" into an invaluable "Chief Improvement Officer."

One of the most fascinating and unconventional ideas represented was that of dispensing with the notion of business units as "customers" because this thinking drives a wedge between IT and the rest of the business. Instead IT should become part of the business, with a seat at the grownup's table and driving business enablement.

Other key ideas and tools in the book include the essential steps to deliver value for money, and the "virtuous cycle" of IT. Having seen firsthand so many business analytics projects go down the hindsight reporting rat hole, it's great to see the authors light a fire under IT's role in innovation (i.e. "the four new sources of value").

And finally, I was thrilled to see inklings of "infonomics" (information economics) in the chapter on IT's role as the stewards of information assets.

--Doug Laney, VP Research, Business Analytics, Gartner, @doug_laney

One person found this helpful

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Timothy J. Ogilvie

A Very Smart, Very Practical Read ... I Loved It

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2018

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This book is simultaneously very, very smart and very, very practical. I loved it. Whether you're a business person and want to understand the strategic role of IT, or an IT leader and want to learn how to communicate (better yet, how to enhance) your value to the business, this is the book to open. There are at least three or four tools/frameworks where I said to myself, "Oh, that makes so much SENSE." Start with the virtuous cycle of IT capability projects, for example. Very satisfying.

One person found this helpful

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J. Jenkins

Good book to help IT re-align...

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2013

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This book thoroughly describes the paradigm shift that people need to take to speak "business" from an IT perspective. As an IT Manager, I can see the need to change our perspective from a overhead to value-add and this book helps paint the picture of what it would take to get there with your team. The book is well written and thoughtful in it's approach - I would recommend this book to anyone in Information Technology looking to change the paradigm.

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2013

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I do not regrett having bought this book. I have read every page and to read it again. It is inspirational and make you feel you can get there. If you need inspiration and knowledge on how to operate as a top IT official, buy yourself one.

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Jean T. Arnell

A Valuable read for IT Managers and Executives

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2010

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This christmas we'll be sharing this book with ALL our customers IT Managers and CIOs. Hunter and Westerman got this one right again ! I have had the opportunity to attend the MIT CISR Summer Session and other work from gartner and they are of true value to IT professionals.
-Value for money when your IT department operates efficiently and effectively
-An investment in business performance evidenced when IT helps divisions, units, and departments boost profitability
-Personal value of CIOs as leaders whose contributions to their enterprise go well beyond their area of specialization

The book provides an actionnable approach to communicating and delivering IT value to any business.
A must read !

Helpful

Mannequin

Useful and Practical Advice but very Verbose

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2012

Approach suggested by Authors is basic commonsense, but definitely relevant, useful and practical, which many people miss out. However this could have been articulated in just a few dozen pages, perhaps as a main article in a magazine rather than a 200 page long book. Result is verbose text, with plenty of repetition and many needless references to what contemporary CIOs, CxOs told the authors or in magazine interviews. What would have helped is giving a set of structured/concrete Checklists/Benchmarks either directly or in the case studies to supplement the suggested value creation 'framework'.

12 people found this helpful

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Seb

Mindset changer

Reviewed in France on December 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

A lot of very good ideas expose with clear example thru real life experiences. A few CIO actions are too much describe. I clearly recommend it.

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William Betournay

Technology - Let You Voice Be Heard

Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2014

Verified Purchase

Simply and succinctly restates the investment value equation pushing IT leaders to step up and more convincingly communicate the enormous potential technology can bring to driving business growth.

MTP

with the Harvard endorsement and authors who represent a good combination of academia and consultancy

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2016

Verified Purchase

This book has an impressive feel to it, with the Harvard endorsement and authors who represent a good combination of academia and consultancy. Hunter is a VP from Gartner - well known as specialists in IT consulting - and Westerman is a researcher at MIT, another strong brand. The credibility of the book is strengthened by references to their research and to real issues in top companies such as Intel. It would have been good to have had more in-depth interviews but the clear conclusions and practical approach make up for this deficiency.

Overall this is an excellent book for prospective CIOs and for anyone who is keen to make a contribution to success in an IT department of a major company. I shall be recommending the book as pre-reading for a course we are running on business partnering for IT people in a major company because it contains many of the messages that link to the course objectives. It certainly seems to be the best book around in this area.

Tim

Useful and informative

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

Aimed more at enterprise level companies but many of the points are relevant for SMB\SMEs who are growing and need to learn how to use IT effectively. Not all the measures will work for you but they are a good start for you to create your own. Good for all budding or mid level execs who want to build an understanding of what IT can achieve and how

M. Ahmed

Are you a CIO? Keep this as a reference in your briefcase.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2010

Verified Purchase

This book should be on the list of every CIO. A MUST read and a reference book to keep in your briefcase. If you are a CIO and want to add value to your organisation through IT, you have selected the right book. Make notes as you go through the book though as their is so information on how to become a better CIO that you don't want to lose that nugget or nuggets of information.

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