Abstract

The Technology Executive:
Tomorrow’s Business Hero?

by Philip Hall
7 November 2006

In today’s increasingly competitive business environment and job market, the role of the technology executive is being seriously questioned. More and more businesses are demanding that their technology executives have a high level of business acumen, and provide the strategic leadership needed to run their department as a business.

Unfortunately, many companies also believe that their technology executives are disinterested in or incapable of strategic leadership. To change that perception, such executives must adopt the CEO way of thinking by grasping the business world in which they work and realistically balancing risk with the business’s need to change and grow.

One effective way for technology executives to demonstrate their strategic value is to assume the role of champion within their company for sustainable business improvement. This role demands a thorough understanding of the company’s strengths and weaknesses, both internally and within the market, as well as the ability to set strategic direction to act on that understanding. The ultimate success of this role depends on constructing and maintaining the operational processes to follow through on the strategy. The technology executive is uniquely positioned to offer this combination of business savvy and technical competency. I believe this is where the real opportunity lies for technology executives to realise their potential to become business superheroes.

 

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