How to cut IT and stay competitive

The economic downturn is putting the squeeze on IT departments, but there are ways for CIOs to reduce costs, while at the same time creating efficiencies and making the business more competitive.

At least that is the view of Bob Riddell and Eric Ullman of Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting, a firm that specializes in information technology. They write in CIO.com that making smart economies "may reduce the impact of budget cuts on IT and, at the same time, drive performance improvement and enhance the value of IT to the overall enterprise."

The consultants offer tips they say are typically overlooked by many IT departments. They include focusing on what the business wants and needs from IT; recognizing and articulating how technology can be used to move the business forward, as well as in leading the improvement initiatives; pruning the projects and services portfolio to focus on what is needed to improve the health of the company; tightening vendor management; upgrading the staff, setting goals and releasing those not meeting expectations; and internally promoting and marketing IT's contributions to the business.

For more tips:
- see this CIO.com article