Newsletter Sign-Up

Receive the latest technology news and information.

IT survival guide

Retiring CIO Paul Ingevaldson offers 10 tips for surviving -- and prospering -- in the IT jungle.

By Paul Ingevaldson

August 23, 2004 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Dear Colleagues:
I've been in IT for 40 years, and I plan to retire at the end of this year. Yes, I'm retiring as the CIO, and I'm not being downsized, forcibly replaced or fired. I've been at my current company, Ace Hardware Corp., for 25 years. That's a long time in this day and age of the portable CIO. In fact, Computerworld.com reported Dec. 22 that the average CIO tenure is 18 to 36 months.
Over the past 40 years in technology, I've developed some practices that have served me well. Perhaps they can also help you survive in the treacherous world of IT. So here are Ingevaldson's top 10 ways to survive the IT jungle:

10 Don't be afraid to leave IT. It's a great experience, and you'll probably come back. And you will come back as a more well-rounded executive. You will also experience IT from the outside in and better understand people's true feelings about IT within the corporation.
And there is nothing more fun and more daunting than trying to make the revenue line. Most of us manage expenses well, but that revenue line is really a challenge. Believe me, you will gain renewed respect for your users.

9 Don't keep IT in the closet. Spread the word, create excitement and convince people to get on the IT bandwagon. We are in a very exciting, dynamic profession that is changing the life of everyone on the planet. You may sometimes think we are selling reports and screens, but remember: We're creating business-changing and life-changing systems.


Paul Ingevaldson, retiring CIO of Ace Hardware Corp. Image Credit: Andy Goodwin

8 Never think you know it all, because you don't. But even if you do, it will change. Read voraciously, and know what's going on. Read outside of your expertise so you can see the world on a bit larger stage. I love Harvard Business Review, The Economist and MIT Technology Review, along with all the other technology magazines and newspapers.

7 Understand the corporate strategy and mobilize IT to support it. Be sure you're part of the process, not just the implementer. This is a high priority, and you must make yourself necessary in the strategy meetings. This requires that you think in company terms, not IT terms. This is really a stretch for some of us, and it's where the rubber meets the road.

6 Develop a "cheap" image. For some of us, especially a Norwegian like me, this is easy. IT is an expensive, misunderstood area that

Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

IT Management

Additional Resources

Xerox

Win a color printer!

By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!

Microsoft

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 today.

Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.

Sybase

NEXT-GENERATION MOBILITY PLATFORMS

In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

White Papers & Webcasts

Chiquita selects Workday's fresh approach to Human Capital Management
A fresh approach to meet IT and HR objectives.

Usability Is Everything
Download this short video! Provided by Workday.

Supporting Employees Anytime, Anywhere
Download this White Paper Now!

The Value of Real SaaS at Workday
Download this short video! Provided by Workday

Natural User Interface for Enterprise Applications
Download this Complimentary White Paper! Provided by Workday.

SaaS at Flextronics, Inc.
Download this short Video! Provided by Workday.

A Truly Global HCM System
Download this Complimentary White Paper! Provided by Workday.

Key Strategies for Managing Data Growth
What are you storage challenges?

Craft a Strategy to Lower Your Total Cost of Ownership
Download this Complimentary White Paper! Provided by Workday.

Extending Client Refresh - 11 Steps to Maximize Savings
Register Now!

All White Papers | All Webcasts

Computerworld Reports

8 Questions To Ask About Your Intrusion-Security Solution

Computerworld Technology Briefings IT Service Management

Computerworld Briefing - Analytics: The Art and Science of Better

All Computerworld Reports

	CareerMail
	Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
	Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
	The Weekly Top 10
	Cloud Computing

resource center