Obviously, much more could be said about all of this, and it's more complicated than I've led you to believe. There is a lot that I could tell you about how to take IT effectiveness measurement to even higher levels (including targeted quality, efficiency and productivity measures). But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that the sooner the IT function understands its mission in such terms, can articulate its true value proposition to the business and becomes a powerful ally in achieving business goals, the better for everyone, including the stockholder.
Will being part of such a transforming achievement have an effect on anyone's résumé?
Yes, but only in positive ways.
Al Kuebler was CIO for AT&T Universal Card, Los Angeles County, Alcatel and McGraw-Hill and director of process engineering at Citicorp. He also directed the consulting activity for CSC Europe. He is now a consultant on general management and IT issues. He is the author of the book Technical Impact: Making Your Information Technology Effective, and Keeping It That Way, from which this article was adapted. He can be reached at ak@technicalimpact.com.
