Straight to the Top: Becoming a World-Class CIO (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Before I jump into a discussion on why technology skills matter for technology executives today, I thought that it would be helpful to first clarify..." (more)
Key Phrases: Forrester Research, Six Sigma, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…should be required reading for all present or aspiring CIOs." (eweek, December 25, 2006)

Product Description

You have what it takes to be a CIO. Do you have a strategy for getting there? Now you do.

"Gregory Smith has written the definitive work on how to achieve leadership success in IT. This well-written and carefully researched book is a must-read for any IT professional with aspirations toward the top IT spot. Years from now, seasoned IT leaders will be crediting Smith's book with playing a role in their success."
—Martha Heller, Managing Director, IT Leadership Practice, Z Resource Group, and cofounder, CIO Executive Council

"Wow! Put all the tips, advice, and strategies in this book to use now. The road to the top is rarely straight—follow Gregory's advice and the path will reveal itself to you!"
—John R. Sullivan, CIO, AARP

"While most professions have a distinct road map to the top, there is no standard career path to becoming a CIO. Smith addresses this unique challenge and provides aspiring CIOs with encouragement, advice, and essential skills based on years of his own and other CIOs' cumulative experience -- an important effort for the profession that Smith's fellow members in the CIO Executive Council embrace and applaud."
—Mark Hall, General Manager of the CIO Executive Council

"Teaching students what a CIO really does has been tough. We've had to choose between anecdotal treatments based on trade press articles and integrated academic frameworks that offer little in the way of lived experiences. Greg's book fixes that. By organizing interviews with leading technology executives, trade press reports, and his own experiences as a CIO, he provides an organized and comprehensive view of the job and its important role in modern organizations."
—Fred Collopy, PHD, Professor and Chair of Information Systems and Professor of Cognitive Science, Case Western Reserve University

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471744786
• ISBN-13: 978-0471744788
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210,634 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent career guide!!!, September 25, 2006

By	C. Francis (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I was offered the job of CIO, I only had 1 week to prepare for the interview. I purchased this book immediately based on the exerpts that I read on line. What an amazing and helpful book. Mr. Smith's pointers and recommendations helped me tremendously! It assisted in preparing me for the interview and even though I am now working as a CIO I still review it. I liked his points on the IT Governance Structure document - somthing that I plan to put in place here, I also read with interest his tips on the first 100 days in the job. I also like the statistical data that were included in each chapter. What was also particularly helpful were his personal experience. I like how the book gives direction to aspiring CIOs and new CIOs. I highly recommend this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More credible than informative, September 7, 2006

By	Jaewoo Kim "OB-Wan" (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

The information contained in this book are not exactly revolutionary. You want to be a CIO? Get an MBA from top notch school, be technically proficient, get project management experience, work on large scale projects, get experience with large scale budgets, and work on your soft (communication and interpersonal) skills.

What sets this book apart from other books with similar title is the source of its information. They are from CIOs and recruiters who have experience placing CIOs.

Too often, many books on becoming a CIO are based on guesses and speculations of the authors who do not have full comprehension of the topic. The author of this book purposely does not use his own conclusions, he merely gathers information and analyze them in an objective fashion.

If you want to read a book on becoming a CIO based on a solid research and survey of relevant professionals, then this book will provide credible, albeit common sense, suggestions.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for IT professionals!, April 13, 2006

By	Anne Topp - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Straight to the Top is required reading for anyone aspiring to a senior IT management position.

In his book, Smith offers solid advice and practical steps to prepare for the CIO role.The author not only relays his own real world career experiences on his climb to the top but cites CIO colleagues and executive recruiters on the skills and experiences needed to grow an IT career. He fortifies his insight with survey results from Forrester and CIO magazine. Smith laces telling personal anecdotes throughout the book which makes it immensely readable.

He ends each chapter with a "What I Did to Prepare" and "Recommendations" which detail actions you can take to prepare for your next promotion.

Smith's Straight to the Top is a roadmap to a top IT position. For anyone in IT, this book is an investment in your future.
Its practical step-by-step approach makes it a valuable tool for any professional. With its sound, solid advice it answers the questions we all ask: What do I need to do to advance my career? I know it has inspired and motivated me to take the next steps to go after my career dreams.