Praise for ON TOP OF THE CLOUD
"21st-century CIOs have a dual responsibility: driving down costs and creating new business value. Managing this seeming dichotomy is the domain of top business executives everywhere, and CIOs everywhere are learning to step it up. The original research contained in Hunter's book serves as a practical road map for IT strategy in today's ultra-competitive markets."
—Randy Spratt, EVP, CIO, and CTO, McKesson Corporation
"This is a thoughtfully written book, and the timing is perfect. Hunter really understands the challenges confronting transformational CIOs in today's markets, and he captures the choices they face as they work to create value for their organizations while driving down the costs of doing business in the modern world. The wealth of information contained in this book makes it truly valuable to career IT leaders and future CIOs alike."
—Mark Polansky, Senior Client Partner and Managing Director, Information Technology Center of Expertise, Korn/Ferry International, North America
"The cloud involves more than just technology. It's really more of a new business model. Hunter grasps the central truth about cloud computing, and that's why this is a valuable book. Hunter understands the issues and conveys them in a conversational tone that is truly refreshing."
—Dave Smoley, SVP and CIO, Flextronics International
"You may think this is a book about technology; well it's not. It's a book about leadership, packed with stories about real leaders finding new customers and markets, transforming the way their organizations work, and adding value—with the next generation of technology as the enabler. The cloud holds real potential. Read this book to see how top CIOs are positioning their companies."
—Tony Leng, Managing Director, Diversified Search
"Hunter has the unique ability to distill the best thinking of world-class CIOs into something you can act on. If you are a technology executive trying to find the right balance between generating business value and managing IT costs, this is the right book for you. On Top of the Cloud will be especially useful for transformational CIOs tasked with developing their company's strategies for technology-driven business growth."
—Randy Krotowski, CIO, Global Upstream, Information Technology, Chevron Corporation
Table of Contents:
Foreword xi Preface xv
Acknowledgments xxiii
Introduction xxv
A New Business Model xxvii
‘‘Thoughtfully Progressive’’ xxviii
Part I: Transformational Leadership 1
Chapter 1 The Rising Tide 3
The CIO as Rock Star 6
Real Stories from Real IT Leaders 7
Learning from Listening 8
More Than Technology 9
The Real Challenge Is Organizational 9
Leadership Is Essential 12
Chapter 2 IT Does Matter 17
Stay Focused on Delivering Value 20
Replacing the Perpetual Pendulum 22
Driving the Innovation Agenda 24
It’s All a Question of Perspective 28
Chapter 3 The Engine of Innovation 31
Bringing Innovation to the Surface 36
Incentivizing Innovation 39
Chapter 4 Finding the Right Balance 45
Winds of Change 49
The Third Bucket 51
The Closer 53
Outside versus Inside 55
Articulating the Value of Technology 57
Chapter 5 The Customer-Focused CIO 61
Top Line or Bottom Line? 65
Driving Business Growth 66
The Rapid Enabler 68
Own, Rent, or Both? 72
Multiple Models 75
Also Consider the User Experience 76
Chapter 6 To Cloud or Not to Cloud 79
Fail Fast, Fail Cheap 83
A Skunk Works in the Cloud 85
Weaving the Seamless Tapestry 87
Part II: Driving Change 91
Chapter 7 In Front of the Firewall 93
Avon Calling 100
When the Model Fits 103
Chapter 8 The New Speed of Change 107
Updating the Mental Model 115
Innovation under Pressure 119
The Cloud on Wheels 121
Campaigning in the Cloud 122
Part III: Building Value 127
Chapter 9 Pushing the Envelope 129
Two Sides of the Same Coin 138
A Multiplicity of Clouds 142
Turn of the Tide 146
Translating ‘‘Speeds and Feeds’’ into Cash Flow 152
Chapter 10 Entering the Cloud 155
Governance Is Fundamental to Success 161
Due Diligence 163
Taking ‘‘No’’ Off the Table 173
Afterword 179
Meet Our Sources 189
Recommended Reading 221
About the Author 225
About HMG Strategy LLC 227
Index 229
About the Author :
HUNTER MULLER is the President and CEO of HMG Strategy, LLC, a leading provider of networking events and professional services to CIOs and senior executives across the IT industry. HMG Strategy, LLC is the producer of world-class events such as the CIO Executive Leadership Series, which provides CIOs and senior executives with opportunities to learn from world-class thought leaders, share knowledge and best practices, and interact with peers and industry leaders representing a wide variety of dynamic markets. Muller has more than twenty years of experience in business strategy consulting with a strong focus on IT organization development, strategy, and business alignment.
Review :
"In his book, On Top of the Cloud Muller interviewed top CIOs about the challenges and opportunities of cloud technology, and how they've learned to lead their companies into a cloud-driven future. These transformational CIOs, as Hunter refers to them, are technology leaders, not followers. They function as champions of innovation and continuous improvement, a role that often requires them to be more like a CEO than CIO." (Monster.com, April 2012)
