For sure I see advantages when the CIO reports to the CEO, and for me it proves that the Company & CEO is understanding the full business value IT can bring to the company.
But even more important is that the company maximizes bottom-line impact and return on its IT investments. This can be done also without reporting to the CEO. Organize the governance, some aspects:
- Corporate & Business Strategy are defined in close relation with the IT strategy, so where IT will enable the business strategy and facilitates new strategies.
- Their is a defined process to justify and prioritize IT related investments tied to the Business Strategy.
- Portfolio tables at the Board Level and within each Business domains.
- Benefit management process; with Business Case at the beginning of intiatives and measure the expected benefits during operation of the new services (=harvesting the benefits)
- Clear KPIs which are understanble by the Business!
Best regards Mark
