How Business Fails the IT Org | Facts Of Offensive Cybersecurity

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013 News   |   Commentary   |   Slideshows   |   Reports   |   Videos   |   Events   |   RSS Feeds   Chris Murphy   5 Ways Business Still Fails The IT Organization I've received a lot of responses to my recent column, "6 Ways IT Still Fails The Business." Some of you didn't like it. "I believe you are wrong on every point you have made," offered one reader. The most common response was along these lines: "Agree, but the problem is a two-way street." That is, business unit leaders share the blame when IT teams can't deliver everything a company wants. Based partly on your feedback, I offer some of the ways business leaders fail their IT organizations. Treat IT As Irrelevant To Customers IT's still a back-office function at too many companies. Those companies fail to see IT as critical to serving customers and to creating new, tech-enabled products. Mock the Internet-linked fridge all you want, but companies that aren't exploring ways to use the Internet of Things, mobile apps and cloud services with their offerings will miss out. Says reader Terry Bennett: "In far too many companies, IT is used as a cost-cutting engine, and IT's capability of generating revenue or of providing a competitive advantage are pushed to the back." Our InformationWeek 500 research suggests attitudes are changing. Last year, 46% of IW 500 companies cited introducing new IT-led products and services among their top three innovation priorities, up from 37% in 2009. Don't Even Try To Get Marketing Working With IT Marketing must "stop throwing darts at the wall and have analytics-based marketing campaigns" and improve project discipline, writes one reader. He laments that "marketing will request 50 projects with a few weeks to months of lead time, and then when IT does not deliver, [IT] is not flexible enough or quick enough." READ MORE THIS EDITION • Offensive Cybersecurity: Theory and Reality • 4 Steps For Proactive Cybersecurity • CIO Profiles: John Tonnison Of Tech Data • Strategy: Cybersecurity on the Offense • Three Rules for Building a Smarter Supply Chain • 10 Best Android Apps Of 2012 • Do Your Mobile Management and Security Requirements Match Your Business Imperatives? • 2013 InformationWeek 500: Nominations Now Accepted JOIN THE CONVERSATION Posted By Mike_Acker: "In my experience most troubles with IT originate from IT marketing. IT is generally over-sold . IT is just a tool . like any tool we have to learn to use it to our best advantage" In reply to: 5 Ways Business Still Fails The IT Organization View Entire Response | Post Your Own Reply     DOWNLOAD INFORMATIONWEEK GOVERNMENT'S LATEST DIGITAL ISSUE Offensive cybersecurity is a tempting prospect. It's also way too early to go there. Here's what to do instead. Also in our new, all-digital issue: Military agencies worldwide are figuring out the tactics and capabilities that will be critical in any future cyber war. DOWNLOAD NOW FREE (Registration Required)     NEW THIS WEEK Offensive Cybersecurity: Theory and Reality Can you -- and should you -- strike back at attackers? It's a complex question with ethical, legal, technical and practical considerations. 4 Steps For Proactive Cybersecurity Tired of having malware punch you in the face? The time's not right to hit back, but here are moves to make now. CIO Profiles: John Tonnison Of Tech Data Big data is nothing new, notes this CIO. Uncertain State Of Cyber War Military agencies worldwide are figuring out the tactics and capabilities that will be critical in any future cyber war. How To Scare Off Your Best IT People We put so much effort into our communications with customers, yet we spend comparatively little time communicating to "our most important resource." CIOs Clueless About Social? Maybe Not We put so much effort into our communications with customers, yet we spend comparatively little time communicating to "our most important resource." MORE FROM THIS ISSUE   REPORTS & WHITEPAPERS FEATURED REPORTS Strategy: Cybersecurity on the Offense Can you -- and should you -- strike back at attackers? It's a complex question with deep ethical, legal and practical considerations. While governments have drawn lines in the sand, for the private sector it's still early days in the offensive cyber security era. You can, however, be proactive. Here's how. Download Now (Registration Required) MORE REPORTS FEATURED WHITEPAPERS Three Rules for Building a Smarter Supply Chain The key to elevating organizational efficiency and profits lies in building a smarter supply chain. Building a smarter supply chain requires attention on three key priorities. Read how these three rules can transform your business and discover how supply chain management solutions are engineered to help you build a smarter supply chain and achieve the perfect order. Download Now (Registration Required) MORE WHITEPAPERS   MOST POPULAR NEWS 10 Best Android Apps Of 2012 Check out these 10 gems that stood out from the crowd of 700,000 Android apps. 5-Inch Smartphone Displays To Be Standard In 2013 What's in store from handset makers for the remainder of the year? Think full-HD displays. Big Data Analytics Masters Degrees: 20 Top Programs These one-year and two-year graduate programs are just what's needed to close the big-data talent gap. Read on to find a school that fits your ambitions and background. 20 Great Ideas To Steal In 2012 Are you playing it too safe, IT leaders? Take these InformationWeek 500 projects along to rev up your next brainstorming session. 12 Best iPhone, iPad Apps Of 2012 You already know about Skype, Instagram and Angry Birds. Check out these business-friendly iPhone and iPad apps you may not have tried, plus an amusing diversion or two. MORE NEWS     WEBCASTS Do Your Mobile Management and Security Requirements Match Your Business Imperatives? The first phase of adoption is usually when executives start using personal mobile devices followed by a democratization of the mobile workforce. More and more employees, especially those who are customer and partner-facing, are using mobile devices in the workplace. And more recently, organizations are beginning to recognize the benefits of mobile use and actvitely pursuing it. More Information & Registration MORE WEBCASTS   RESOURCES AND EVENTS 2013 InformationWeek 500: Nominations Now Accepted It's that time of the year again: Nominate your company for the 2013 InformationWeek 500 -- It's our 25th annual ranking of the country's most innovative users of business technology. Organizations with $250 million or more in revenue may pre-register now to receive more information. Deadline is April 12 This e-mail was sent to sojo.blo@gmail.com This Week At InformationWeek -- Published By InformationWeek 600 Community Drive Manhasset, NY 11030 To update your profile, change your e-mail address, or unsubscribe, click here. Thoughts about this newsletter? Give us feedback. Keep This Newsletter Out Of Your SPAM Folder Don't let future editions of This Week At InformationWeek go missing. Take a moment to add the newsletter's address to your anti-spam white list: email@techwebnewsletters.com If you're not sure how to do that, ask your administrator or ISP. Or check your anti-spam utility's documentation. We take your privacy very seriously. Please review our Privacy Statement. © 2013  |  United Business Media LLC  |  Privacy Statement  |  Terms Of Service  |  Contact Us Powered by Blogger.