Managing IT as a Business: A Survival Guide for CEOs (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "For years now, our company's information technology (IT) organization has mirrored the way the company itself has evolved-decentralized, fragmented, and underleveraged..." (more)
Key Phrases: executive leadership team, Day One, United States, Information Technology Improvement Never Ends (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"More than a survival guide for CEOs, Managing IT as a Business provides a framework for properly leveraging IT and does so in a concise, well-sourced, and eminently readable format. This book is a must-read for all successful executives!"
–Donard P. Gaynor
Former CFO, SVP-HR, CIO, and Reengineering Leader
The Seagram Spirits and Wine Group

"Mark Lutchen offers up some important guidance to the CIO on how to bring IT into the mainstream of the business and how the CIO can make the transition from tech guru and administrator to a full member of the executive team."
–Marinus N. Henny
Vice Chairman and CFO
Universal Music Group

"Mark Lutchen thinks like an operating executive. He recognizes that IT costs are a major line item in any corporate budget and that these costs must be viewed as a means to building a business rather than an end. He knows that this happens when CEOs and CIOs communicate effectively. That’s what Managing IT as a Business is all about."
–Kenneth Roman
Former Chairman and CEO
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

"Lutchen’s insights are practical and actionable. In fact, CEOs and other executives traversing the IT minefield will find no more authoritative guide than Managing IT as a Business."
–Paul Turner
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
AMS

"Increasingly, CIOs are being asked to join the ranks of top management. In Managing IT as a Business, Mark Lutchen offers CEOs a powerful perspective on how to leverage IT as a strategic tool. For CIOs, he cogently addresses the leadership skills they need to be full and effective members of the business-strategy team."
–Glen Urban
Dean Emeritus and Chairman of the Center for eBusiness
MIT Sloan School of Management

From the Inside Flap

Typically, information technology ranks highly among most companies’ top five expenditures. Yet IT continues to be one of the least understood and most poorly managed areas in business. While all executives recognize the importance of technology as a means of improving customer service and of making work more efficient, few understand how to leverage IT strategically and how to use it as a driver of business success.

Managing IT as a Business provides executives with practical advice on how to unleash the full potential of this critical function so that companies can derive maximum benefit. It offers a proven plan for bridging the gap between CEOs and CIOs that has, until now, impeded their ability to work together in order to craft objectives, establish budget guidelines, and develop metrics for measuring IT value and success. In short, with this book as a guide, business leaders will learn how to manage IT as they would any other functional business unit.

Through numerous case studies that outline the lessons other senior executives have learned while maximizing their IT investment, Managing IT as a Business covers such essentials as:

• Bringing IT into the mainstream of the enterprise
• Managing IT as a stand-alone business unit that advances corporate goals and increases profits
• Linking IT strategy to corporate strategy from a perspective of practical execution rather than theory
• Helping business units define their technology needs and risks, and enhance IT services through rigorous relationship management
• Institutionalizing within IT a culture of customer service, on-time delivery, high quality, and results-oriented performance
• Rewarding IT executives and managers based on how well IT initiatives drive profits

In today’s hypercompetitive business environment, long-term success depends on quality customer service and information management. As a key driver of that success, IT has become increasingly important to any company’s survival. Embedding business-oriented performance measurements in all components of the IT organization may not be easy, but no forward-thinking executive can afford to ignore this business imperative.

In Managing IT as a Business, Mark D. Lutchen offers CEOs the insight and practical guidance they need to get the most out of technology spending, to understand the real value of the IT business unit, and to increase revenues and minimize risks by taking advantage of new technologies. If information technology is to fufill its promise, executives need to prepare for fundamental change by questioning the way they currently think about–and manage–IT. For those seeking answers to such questions, this invaluable book is the definitive resource.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (October 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471471046
• ISBN-13: 978-0471471042
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,351 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, June 2, 2004

By	Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract.com" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the fall of 2003, the Harvard Business Review published an article advancing the proposition that "IT doesn't matter." The article's author suggested that because IT was now a commodity, and everyone had it, it no longer conveyed any distinctive competitive advantage and therefore, strategically, did not matter. In fact, at many companies, IT doesn't matter as much as it should - not because it is a commodity that other companies also use, but because most companies don't get every potential benefit from their IT. To advance your business agenda effectively, make IT a real part of the business. Author Mark D. Lutchen shows managers, particularly CEOs and CIOs, why IT is not fully a part of business at the moment, and what it will take to turn IT into a competitive, strategic asset. We recommend this useful, well-written, clearly organized book to anyone whose job involves decisions on IT budgets, organization, investments or strategy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for IT professionals developing a career roadmap, March 27, 2004

By	Joe Santana (Henderson,, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This is a fabulous book for experienced or aspiring IT managers whose goal is to prepare for ascension through the ranks, especially to the CIO level. In simple yet rich language, Mark presents a clear picture of the future of the IT organization and the competencies needed in the CIO and senior team heading up this professional services operation. The examples and case studies are rich with insights. In short, this book is pragmatic and weighty, yet also highly readable and I dare say outright enjoyable. I highly recommend it as a must read for anyone who wants to develop an effective IT career roadmap. Thank you Mark Lutchen.

Joe Santana,
Co-author Manage IT

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pragmatic and clear., June 23, 2005

By	K. Bhagavan "Book worm" (Los Altos, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have only one simple statement - where were you Mark when I started my IT career 17 years ago? Today I would have been a CIO! I highly recommend this book for those starting out their careers in IT as it gives a big picture look to the field. Own it and refer to the clear and relevant graphics in the book.