How CIOs can gain corporate clout

Patrick Gray, author of "Breakthrough IT: Supercharging Organizational Value through Technology," said CIOs often have a "robust knowledge of the processes and practices" of nearly every facet of their corporation but do not always use it to their advantage. His advice: Find a way to get a seat at the corporate table and a place in the strategic planning process. "Innovation is the CIO's 'secret weapon' that bridges the gap between other members of the C-suite focused on individual process areas, and the CEO, responsible for steering the company at the highest level," said Gray. "Acting to bridge the two moves the CIO from the periphery of the C-suite players into the inner sanctum."

For more advice:
- check out this TechRepublic.com article