| | May 201719CIOReviewnotion of transparency, remind people it's there, and challenge openly when someone believes that it's not.The Value Equation­Cost, Service, and QualityFirst off, consider cost. Given two choices, each with a different cost, the lower cost option is always the right one...Right? While the CFO at times may beg to differ, that's really only part of the equation.Next, add service. Again, given two options, the one with the better service level is always preferable, especially if costs are somewhat comparable or proportional...Right? With all due respect to demanding end users, that too, is only part of the equation. Finally, don't forget quality. We may be able to achieve a good "gross" level of service and do so at an acceptable cost, but if it's delivered at poor quality, then neither service nor cost really matters.Of course, depending on the situation, any one of the three may be more important than the other. The task, Managing Technology at 360 DegreesBy Jeff Palm, CIO, Allianz Life In today's world of technology, issues come at a rapid pace and exist in all shapes and sizes. We deal with topics ranging from the highly strategic to the painstakingly tactical--separating new product and platform hype from reality, managing prudent financial investments, and addressing delivery needs made more difficult by a myriad of ties to legacy platforms.I think of this as having to "manage at 360 degrees"--and although that's a comment meant to be centered around geometry, I confess at times it also feels as if an analogy to an oven temperature is equally fitting. With that in mind, I would like to offer a few suggestions for how to navigate and lead in an ever-changing, complex technology environment.Consider Driving Toward a Principles-Based OrganizationGiven the daily, if not hourly, issues we all face, it's imperative that leaders in Technology organizations view issues similarly and apply common principles towards solving them. In our organization, we have guiding principles to help us along those lines. When confronted with a problem, if a proposed solution displays general alignment with these principles, then more often than not, the decision is likely a sound one. Conversely, if the solution doesn't seem to align with these principles then, odds are, a rethink may be in order. I'll highlight a couple principles here.TransparencyBeing transparent sounds easy, and frankly it is--or at least it can be--if you are fully committed to it. Providing full transparency to business partners and executives helps build healthy respect and promotes an environment that increases trust over time--whether managing budgets, reporting status, or exploring new technologies. It is important here to continue to openly "push" the Jeff PalmCIO Insights
< Page 9 | Page 11 >