5 must-read books for CIOs

May 5, 2015

Jared Jaureguy

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Most CIOs find themselves at the forefront of change and innovation in whatever business they’re in. Many times, they are the ones to suggest using new technologies to help out their companies, often bucking the status quo. The position of CIO is certainly not an easy one and many will admit to wanting as much help as they can get in guiding them on the best path. Luckily, there are many resources out there that can prove to be useful tools for CIOs, helping them understand what it takes to be a good leader and how best to influence their co-workers, superiors, and respective industries. Some of the best resources happen to be books written by some of the experts in the field, and while CIOs may be extremely busy, taking a bit of time each day to kick back and read can be wonderfully advantageous not just for today, but for the future as well. Here are just a few books all CIOs should take a closer look at.

1. F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained, and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation

Author: Dan Ward

The writer, Dan Ward, happens to be an Air Force officer, which means getting a no-nonsense look at what’s required to take the lead while undertaking an organization’s most crucial projects. The basic idea behind F.I.R.E. is to find practical and easily reachable solutions to some of the toughest problems any leader will encounter. The methods suggested can also lead to leaps in innovation, which is a quality many CIOs are striving for. Ward’s use of real-world examples makes the lessons easy to apply in any leadership position.

2. Confessions of a Successful CIO: How the Best CIOs Tackle Their Toughest Business Challenges

Based off of the title alone, it’s clear Confessions is a definite must read for any CIO. Roberts and Watson, while experts themselves, let other CIOs make the case on how organizational technology leaders can respond to the ever-changing demands they face. Confessions outlines how CIOs need to be the ones who step up to initiate changes that will positively affect a company’s revenue, which requires a bit of business knowledge in addition to technical expertise. This book also provides a good guide on how to respond when things don’t go according to plan.Authors: Dan Roberts and Brian Watson

3. Demystifying the Cloud

Author: Ann Newman

Not all must read books need to be of the paper variety. Demystifying the Cloud is an ebook put out by Dell that aims to clear up some of the most common misconceptions about cloud computing. While most CIOs may be familiar with the cloud, Demystifying the Cloud is an easy-to-use resource that makes for a handy reference guide to notable questions touching on subjects like multi-clouds, cloud providers, and the future of cloud technology. If nothing else, the ebook helps CIOs put the cloud in simple terms when talking with CEOs about the importance of cloud computing in today’s business world.

4. CIOs: How to Become the CEOs Business Partner

Author: Nicolas Betbeder-Matibet

This is another helpful ebook CIOs can read in less than an hour. The ebooklooks at the different roles and priorities of the CIO and CEO and sets out what’s expected in that relationship. CEOs think in terms of business sense, so CIOs need to find the best ways to communicate to them about the business importance of what the IT department does. This ebook helps break through that barrier and clear up miscommunications by outlining what practices CIOs should engage in to best make their case to the CEO.

5. Staying the Course as a CIO: How to Overcome the Trials and Challenges of IT Leadership

Author: Jonathan Mitchell

The challenges a CIO faces can be formidable. In Staying the Course as a CIO, Jonathan Mitchell gives useful advice on how to work through the toughest projects and solve some of the most pressing issues CIOs deal with today. Obviously, outlining every single problem is impossible in a single book, but Mitchell shows how CIOs can get the most out of their IT team, realizing their full potential in the process.

This is only a short list of what are many incredibly insightful resources available to CIOs. Those CIOs willing to take the time to prepare themselves for modern day challenges and for working with the CEO will find their tenure to be a successful and productive one. Consider these books as the perfect starting point of a continued effort to learn and grow for many years to come.

This article is published in collaboration with The Smart Data Collective. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Jared Jaureguy is a technology writer.

Image: A woman reads a book at her open air book store in Skopje. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski.

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