Marc J. Schiller

The tech media is complicit in the marginalization of the IT leader

mschiller — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:00:49 +0000

Every tech publication scolds the CIO for not being oriented enough and knowledgeable enough about business. The “professional” journalists and editors at these publications go on and on about how CIOs need to get closer to the business, deal with strategic issues, etc. But the fact of the matter is, they haven’t got a clue what that means themselves. All these guys can talk about is tech, tech, and more tech. It’s pathetic.

Need some proof? Listen to what the editors of the big IDG publications say really matters in 2012. OMG

And these guys blame the IT leaders and managers in corporations for being overly consumed with technology? Puhleez.

What brilliant insights … NOT.

What IT Leaders Need Most in 2012

mschiller — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:20:21 +0000

Wishing you a 2012 filled with much professional dissatisfaction. Here’s why.

As usual, in the run up to the New Year, tech media are littered with “top 10” lists and forecasting articles about the year to come. Consulting firms, research analysts, and tech publications (including CIO Insight) are calling on IT professionals and leaders to heed their advice and align to their proclamations lest disaster befall them in the New Year.

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

The Role of the CIO: Why You Deserve to Be Demoted

mschiller — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:53:01 +0000

There are three very real and current challenges that are the big reasons for demoting the CIO. In place of attempting to give you a 30-second version on the “new” role of the CIO, I’d like to open a dialogue. I’d like to present just one idea that I believe will be helpful to IT leaders in both forming a sense of their role today and into the future. Most importantly, I’ll present and test that one idea against the big three reasons to demote the CIO to see how it stands up. You get to be the judge.

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

Dear CEO: IT Innovation Depends on You

mschiller — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:03:07 +0000

Last week, in “An Open Letter to the CEO: What IT Really Needs,” I outlined the three big steps your CEO can take to improve IT performance and ROI. I received such a strong response to the article–and so many requests to learn about the two more advanced methods I alluded to–that it’s back with Part II. Now I move up to the next level: The actions that the CEO can take to not only make IT more effective, but to energize the IT group and unleash its natural tendencies to innovate.

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

I’ll tell your CEO the truth

mschiller — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:18:15 +0000

It’s time to set the record straight. It’s time to stop beating yourself up about all the things IT could have or should have done. It’s time for the business to take some ownership in the success of IT.

To help you get the message out, I’ve written a letter to your CEO telling her the way it is; or rather the way it should be. In clear and simple language I’ve told her what she has to do to make IT 100x more effective.

Your mission: Find a way to get it on her desk.

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

Steve, it was your eye

mschiller — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:24:08 +0000

Steve, it was your eye that shaped the world.

It was your eye for design and presentation that set the standard for product beauty for all to emulate. It was your eye that set the standard for user interface. It was your eye for fonts, and graphics and computer animation that set the standard in these areas as well. My God. What an eye you had. And what an eye you taught us all to have.

There isn’t a graphic designer in the world who doesn’t reference Apple. There isn’t a marketing executive that doesn’t use Apple as the benchmark for simplicity and packaging excellence. And there isn’t a CEO in the world that doesn’t wish for the innovative prowess that you infused into Apple.

But I’m not writing about your loss as a dispassionate commentator. For me it’s personal. You see, I grew up on your products. I wrote my first lines of code on an Apple II. I bristled when you were pushed out of Apple. I rejoiced when you returned. (I especially rejoiced after buying the stock a while back. Thanks for that too.)

I feel your presence all around me. My company runs on all Apple products. My home network is Apple top to bottom. My family owns numerous iPads, iPods, iMacs, Apple TVs, Mac Minis and more. I spent 2+ years up to my eyes in Final Cut Pro editing my first film. And the list goes on and on. And I am hardly unique. There are millions more just like me all over the world who put your genius to work (and play) every day.

Just a short while ago I wrote about the pain and suffering your family must be facing in light of your illness. And now they must cope with your untimely loss. What can I possibly say except to wish them that they somehow find support in the global outpouring of love and support that you have inspired.

And yes, you were right when you said in 2003 that death is what gives life meaning. But this dose of meaning we could all have done without for a while longer.

Let The Business Do The Talking

mschiller — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:58:22 +0000

If you want to be truly successful selling your technology ideas and projects, don’t sell them at all. Have your colleagues and customers do the selling for you.

We’re betting you’ve probably heard this piece of advice a few dozen times. You may have even taken it to heart once or twice — especially for that really big ERP upgrade you just completed. So, you “get it.” Or, at least you think you do. And you’re ready to move on.

But before you do…

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

A Business Case that Sells

mschiller — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:03:54 +0000

It’s Q4 and you’re fighting for 2012 budget. That’s why I am sharing with you the most effective and advanced methods for selling your IT/business projects.

Last week I introduced the Madison Avenue Presentation Technique. This week it will be the centerpiece of internal project sales success: The business case. How it typically looks, where it falls short, and most importantly … how it should be presented.

Click here to read the entire article on CIO Insight.

The Madison Avenue Sales Technique for IT Leaders

mschiller — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:45:45 +0000

It’s budget crunch time for IT leaders. You gotta get out there and defend your budget. So, for the next several weeks I am going to focus on this very topical issue for most CIOs.

In my CIO Insight column this week, “Mad Men” has the answers to your budget Woes, I share a lesson from the techniques of Madison Ave.

Presenting budget plans using the Madison Avenue technique can make you a huge budget winner. Click here to learn how.

Enough with the management platitudes

mschiller — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:20:54 +0000

It seems like the more some phrases get used, the less they are really heard or understood. In my article this week for CIO Insight, I take on the sorry state of change management and what IT leaders need to do about it.

Read the full article here.