A CIO Communication Framework for the Digital Era: Line-of-Business Executives

A CIO Communication Framework for the Digital Era: Line-of-Business Executives

This IDC Perspective discusses effective CIO communications with LOB peers. The ability to communicate and collaborate with LOB executives has become a critical core competency for CIOs — a gateway to success with digital transformation and the IT organization. This document is the second in a series of three documents focusing on CIO communication to three critical constituencies: the board of directors, LOB executive peers, and direct IT reports. In contrast to the first document that discussed "communicating upward" to the board, this document describes the key imperatives, primary goals, unique challenges, and strategies for "communicating laterally" to CIOs' peers."In many DX initiatives, LOB executives may be the initiators, owners, and drivers of the efforts — with or without the help of the CIO," says Marc Strohlein, adjunct research advisor with IDC's Research Network. "When CIOs have weak communications with LOB executives, the temptation and opportunity for business units to "go it on their own" increase, adding unwelcome and unnecessary risk factors."