Should I Outsource IT Decision Making?

You have an IT department, but you are not bigsuited for your business, and someone who knows
enough to have a Chief Information Officer (CIO) or awhere IT is going.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and the companyIf you have such a company and are in France, you
owner isn't a technology master. Can you outsourcecan hire me. If you are willing to work with someone
this position part time?remotely, I may still be your man. But, this post is not
There are a lot of companies that bring in people toabout getting me a job.
cook the books on a weekly or monthly basis, but fewThe person you need must have a willingness to
consider bringing in someone to make the IT decisions.collaborate with your business units, and be able to
In fact, all too often the important IT decisions areexplain in terms that you will understand where the
passed off to the IT department ( or IT person) hopingtechnology is going and how both the technology and
they will make the right decisions.your business can grow together.
Leave IT Governance To An ExpertIT Governance is a complex field and should not be
In business today this is a horrible decision. Considertaken lightly.
finding an IT professional, who can manage your ITTechnology touches all parts of a company, so it is
department, not on a day to day basis, but to makeimportant that the different business unit leaders are
the decision on where your company should be going.involved in this process, and they have to understand
Someone that can work with you to outline yourthat the person, even though part time, has the
business goals and budget, and then tell you thedecision making responsibility. Too many people think
technologies that are best suited for your company.they know enough about technology to make
Often people hire a consultant to come in one time todecisions themselves, but a sales person is usually not
do an audit, and then that person vanishes forever. Orthe best person to make these type decisions. Bringing
until the company suddenly finds themselves about 5in a part time person is to improve their performance,
years out of date. What you are looking for someoneto another person to do battle with over fiefdoms of a
with knowledge of your business, a widecompany.
understanding of technology, an understanding whereIf you don't have a person to run your IT department,
both your business and the technologies that are bestoutsource IT decision making.