More IT projects crash because of politics than anyone would
give credit for, says Gartner analyst
Tina Nunno.
CIOs can't afford to stand aloof from company politics if they
are to deliver the benefits of IT, she said at Gartner's annual
symposium in Cannes today. However, there are "very predictable"
landmines they need to avoid.
CIOs are competing with their colleagues in other areas of the
business for control, resources, status and power. Any and all of
these are potential flashpoints for the unwary CIO because the
shifts in these areas indicate winners and losers, Nunno said.
The sooner they understand that and develop the skills to use it
to their advantage the sooner they will be able to get the respect
and power they need to do their jobs, she said.
Nunno recommended CIOs take a look at Machiavelli, whose
The
Prince, a handbook on how to acquire and hold power has been
bedtime reading for leaders since Lorenzo the Magnificent, for whom
it was written.
"IT is frequently in a difficult position because we cross the
entire organisation," she said. This breadth of vision means CIOs
often know better what is going on than their colleagues, and this
can lead to jealousy and negative behaviour, she said.
CIOs could use their cross-disciplinary view to understand the
different agendas in play. "Very often they will discover the
different agendas have more in common than they thought," she
said.
She said CIOs needed to understand the organisational culture.
"Aligning yourself with the CEO may be the right thing to do
because the CEO ultimately controls access to resources. But if you
work in a meritocracy, it might not go down well. You need to align
your IT agenda with those of the other agendas to be
successful."
She said many IT teams will feel there is one best solution, one
right thing to do. "If that doesn't fit with what the other
stakeholders want, you can hit a political landmine. There is no
one right way. That's why as a CIO you should always have ready
multiple options," she said.