IBM's CIO not just an IT manager

For IBM CIO Mark Hennessy, technology leadership is not just about understanding business strategy, but setting that strategy and executing it on a global basis. As CIO of a worldwide company, Hennessy said he cannot just be a utility manager. "I think once you make that leap, and you are very much aligned with the execution of the company's strategy, it is a lot easier to justify the investments because they are in line with the strategy and they do return real value whether it be revenue growth, or productivity improvement, or increased customer satisfaction," he told Wisconsin Technology Network.

One key component of his plan is the firm's workforce management initiative, which is designed to create common processes, tools, skills and capabilities that can be deployed depending on client need. "A big part of this is how well we are capturing the requirements and planning to either bring on board the skills we need or develop the people we already have on board to meet ongoing requirements of our clients," Hennessy said. He also stressed the need to make sure every person in the IT organization understands how his or her work supports the business strategy.

For more on managing a global IT operation:
- see this Wisconsin Technology Network article