To better illustrate how IT's close involvement in the business leads to its greatest value to an organization, the CIO of Ulkar Holding A.S.--the parent company of one of the leading pharmaceutical firms in Turkey--mapped out his team's activities against three levels of leadership: Functional, transformational and business strategist.

The CIO, A. Murat Mendi, discovered that his team was completely competent as far as the functional level goes, so he looked for ways to encourage them to look at issues with the business in mind. In an article at CIOUpdate, Mendi outlines the process he has gone through to create a more strategy-oriented team.

Mendi has tried to hire employees with a stronger business background and focus, and he is working to place other IT employees out in the field to work side-by-side with those in the business units. Placing a greater emphasis on the company's external customers has also helped put IT in greater sync with the business.

For more:
- see A. Murat Mendi's post at CIOUpdate

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