The strategic CIO and the next wave of convergence

What happens when a licence or other technology contract expires and the parties simply continue as if nothing had happened?

Last month, I wrote about a common contracting problem at the outset of ICT relationships. This month, I’ve looked at a problem with established relationships: what happens when a licence or other technology contract expires and the parties simply continue as if nothing had happened? Does a contract still exist or not? And if one does exist, what terms apply and how can it be terminated? read more

Microsoft is developing a poor reputation with some OEMs and developers because of its recent dealings

Microsoft’s mishandling of 8.1 is only the latest in a series of partnership blunders from the technology behemoth. The best thing Steve Ballmer can do before stepping down as CEO is build a development community around Windows 8, but what does Microsoft do? They snub their ISV partners by making the minor release available to them relatively late, and as an afterthought. (For the record, 8.1 is not just your average minor release. It fixes a number of things that make Windows 8 essentially unusable for enterprise customers.) read more

Communication, client interpretation and openness crucial for CIO and their departments to realise what they set out to achieve

In recent years, the Agile methodology has moved from being next practice to best practice for IT professionals. Within the UK, it is being widely adopted by government departments as well as large businesses such as BA, Maersk Line and HP. But what is Agile? read more

Out of all the current changes, rebuilding in-house capability and developing empowered, inspirational and delivery-focused technology leaders probably matters most

September's 2013 CIO Summit showcased what true technology leadership means. It shone a bright, inspiring light on those doing the right thing, busy improving organisations and services through a relentless focus on their users’ needs – and cast into shadow those elsewhere who have made "enterprise IT" such a derogatory and discredited phrase. read more

CIOs, you need to address the communications skills of your staff as a priority

As a business leader you too need to exhibit excellent communication skills. Again this must extend beyond task-based fact-related interactions. I meet CFOs who tell me that their only interaction with their CIO is when they want something. And the request is usually pitched in the tone of a threat. For example if we do not buy X then Y will happen and Y is bad. read more

Are we doing enough for the next generation of business technology leaders? Tom O'Brien is at the starting line of his career and shares his experiences so far

CIOs report a massive skills gap that means they and their organisations cannot find the talent they need to enable their businesses to grow. read more

Essex County Council CIO David Wilde looks at achieving application visibility, and dealing with legacy and duplication. read more

A&N; Media is part of the Daily Mail and General Trust media company which publishes the tabloid Daily Mail national newspaper as well as regional titles and has a significant interest in the UK’s commercial television sector. read more

Pedal powered

As the Tour of Britain hits the nation's streets and roads, cycling keeps growing in the UK and across the world, which is boosting UK e-commerce cycling business, Wiggle. read more

As the leading insurer to farmers and rural communities, NFU Mutual must modernise to survive in a competitive market and attract younger customers, says its CIO Tim Mann

A key attribute of leadership is to understand your organisation, its customer base and workforce. No business change project will succeed unless these practices are followed. So as CIO of an insurance firm specialising in farming and rural customers, Tim Mann has learned to adopt a pace of change and a set of suppliers that the community can readily accept. NFU Mutual – the commercial financial services business to the National Farmers Union – was founded in 1910 and is in good shape, so change has had to be careful. read more