Opinion
Opinion
CW500 and IT leadership skills
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Smarter use of AI means business process optimisation, not simply automation
To get the most from artificial intelligence and automation, IT leaders need to focus on where the technology adds real-world business value, not the trendy tech Continue Reading
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From front line to back office – how supporting the cyber community keeps the NHS safe
NHS Digital’s chief information security officer describes how the Cyber Associates Network benefits security experts in health and care Continue Reading
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Martha Lane Fox: My life in tech
The internet entrepreneur discusses the role of tech in society, confidence in coding and encouraging young people to embrace technology Continue Reading
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How to write an executive CV for IT leadership jobs
Knowing how to write an IT executive CV requires a deep knowledge and skillset that not everyone has. Find out how to set yourself apart from the competition Continue Reading
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Risk and reward: How to succeed in digital transformation
Most organisations are seeking to step up their digital transformation efforts, but history has shown that such efforts can be doomed to failure if they take the wrong approach Continue Reading
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What will it take for humanity to fully understand tech?
The failure of the coronavirus contact-tracing system, due to limits set by an old Excel format, demonstrates a failure of technology to cope with human reliance Continue Reading
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Top 10 skills to include in your IT CV
Find out what skills and keywords you should include on your CV to stand out as an IT professional in a competitive market Continue Reading
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Tech executives need new skills to lead in a remote world
After helping organisations adapt to new ways of working during the Covid-19 pandemic, IT leaders worldwide are now enjoying greater influence, according to this year’s Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey Continue Reading
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Digital leaders and the widening divide
This year’s Harvey Nash/KPMG CIO Survey shows a widening of the digital business divide, with companies that have already adopted digital technologies more likely to accelerate those investments than those still in the planning stage Continue Reading
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A CIO’s journey through the Covid-19 crisis
FDM’s IT chief takes us through the challenges of responding to the coronavirus pandemic, and the future opportunities that the changes introduced now present Continue Reading
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Gartner: Three questions CIOs must ask before updating strategy post-pandemic
Corporate leaders are turning to IT to build a digital future for their organisations – and CIOs can use their experience of pandemic-induced changes to build a new post-Covid strategy Continue Reading
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Let’s not get ahead of ourselves – the UK tech startup scene still needs support post-Covid
Government and investors have shown their support for tech startups during the coronavirus pandemic, but there are still challenges ahead and it's not a time for complacency Continue Reading
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The Covid-19 crisis: Reinventing digital transformation
Digital transformation projects are returning as organisations realise that improvements in productivity and customer engagement are now even more important – providing that the work can be done remotely and there’s still cash to pay for it Continue Reading
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London Data Commission: Sharing data to help support London’s response to Covid-19
London First’s director of connectivity and competitiveness, David Lutton, talks about establishing the London Data Commission, and its contribution to coping with the coronavirus crisis Continue Reading
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IT transformation steps pave the path to new ways to work
The CEO of Difrent discusses how her roles in local and central government have played a role in public sector IT transformation Continue Reading
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Unsteady state: Building collaboration, innovation and responsiveness during unprecedented change
The coronavirus crisis is challenging business and tech leaders in new and unprecedented ways – but the skills developed by successful leaders can forge better business and government going forward Continue Reading
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CCRC findings on subpostmaster prosecutions reveal incompetence of successive governments
Former subpostmaster who took on the Post Office in a multimillion-pound legal battle speaks out. Continue Reading
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What is the Post Office board doing to right the Horizon wrongs?
Business lawyer Nick Gould compares the treatment of subpostmasters by the Post Office in the Horizon IT scandal with the huge HBOS fraud that saw £1bn stolen from small businesses Continue Reading
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EC publishes approach to human and ethical implications of AI, but what will UK do?
The European Commission has published a guide to the EU’s approach to the human and ethical effects that artificial intelligence might bring Continue Reading
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Gartner: How CIOs can lead organisational culture
In large-scale transformations, the technical implementation is often far easier than the change management needed to make IT projects a success Continue Reading
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Making apprenticeships do more than just work
Better use of apprentices, and further reform to the apprenticeship levy, will be key to continuing the impressive growth rate of the UK’s digital economy Continue Reading
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There's nothing much new in tech, but it's what we do with what we have that matters
It feels like the world of tech is full of new things, but that's not entirely true. There's not a lot of invention going on, but that's fine because it's innovation that powers growth and productivity Continue Reading
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Learning from the Travelex cyber attack: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
The key lesson to take from the Travelex breach is that an effective response to a breach is a critical business function and no longer the sole province of the IT department Continue Reading
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Why the banking industry needs an IT makeover
UK banks face huge challenges keeping their service availability levels at 99.99% Continue Reading
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The Post Office computer problem that destroyed the lives of pillars of the community
The Post Office’s refusal to believe subpostmasters were suffering losses due to computer system errors was incompetent and cruel Continue Reading
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Gartner: Top 10 strategic technology trends in 2020
Two decades ago, at the start of the millennium, IT was deeply concerned about Y2K – and the iPhone, Twitter and Facebook didn’t exist. So what’s in store as a new decade begins? Continue Reading
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How CI/CD helps digital organisations
Developments in technology have transformed IT management practices. We discuss the management implications of using CI/CD to drive digitisation initiatives Continue Reading
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The super-resilient organisation
We need to build super-resilient organisations that can not only survive in a tempestuous world, but become energised by it Continue Reading
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The super-resilient IT function
IT functions don’t have to continue taking the blame for organisational failures, they can take the lead in transforming the business Continue Reading
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General Election 2019: Digital must be at the core of the next government’s strategy
TechUK lays out the technology priorities it wants to see from the next UK government to boost the digital economy Continue Reading
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The super-resilient CIO
How developing ‘super-resilience’ can help your organisation thrive on adversity Continue Reading
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Gartner: Three Barriers to AI Adoption
CIOs are set to include artificial intelligence in their IT strategy. Technical, legislative and cultural challenges could influence their AI ambitions Continue Reading
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The right way to get on with building UK tech success is to get a Brexit deal now
The UK technology sector does not want a no-deal Brexit, and recognises the damage it would cause. If we're leaving the EU, the Prime Minister needs to get a deal Continue Reading
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Gartner: Eight ways blockchain can support governments
Distributed ledgers are not just limited to finance and smart contracts. Gartner explores how blockchain can tackle government inefficiencies Continue Reading
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Gartner: Five pitfalls for a new CIO to avoid
Entering a company as the new CIO is an unpredictable experience. Here are five common issues to look out for Continue Reading
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Opening a path into a tech career for anyone
The technology sector needs new talent and must get better at appealing to people at all stages of their life and career Continue Reading
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Gender diversity is failing in tech: how can we turn it around?
Todays technology organisations need innovative thinking, communication, relationship building, influencing and listening – skills that a lot of women possess in abundance. Yet employers frequently advertise jobs in ways that unwittingly deter ... Continue Reading
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What the UK can learn from the Nordics when it comes to digital ID
The UK and other countries can learn from the Nordic region when it comes to digital identity Continue Reading
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What Belarus offers the tech sector
Belarus might not be as well known for its IT as some of its neighbours, but it is pushing its head above the parapet Continue Reading
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Making the move to cloud work for you
Getting the best out of a move to the cloud means getting the size right, turning off what you don’t need, smart purchasing and continuously decluttering your new environment Continue Reading
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How to prepare for the UK’s uncertain Brexit terms
Analyst firm Gartner looks at the main business continuity plans that need to be in place Continue Reading
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Leading IT: Lessons from the front line
As a CIO, whatever challenges you face in terms of budget, mandates or timetable, you may already have the right people to carry out incredible IT feats. Here are four ways to lead your organisation to unprecedented success Continue Reading
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Resist the tech backlash before it’s too late
An increasingly unhealthy narrative has grown up around the tech sector – some of which is justified. But industry leaders need to push back and argue for the benefits of technology, too Continue Reading
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More effective digital transformation through the power of your own people
The old model of escalating decisions up and down the management chain does not work any more. Business leaders need to delegate responsibility for projects to business and technology specialists and eliminate the fear of failure Continue Reading
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The journey to turning your organisation into a platform
Compete with digital rivals by becoming a platform organisation – how companies can start navigating the transformation journey Continue Reading
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Introducing ‘focus and leverage’ – the value algorithm of the internet era
Anyone pitching a business idea or designing a new service needs to understand the economics of mature internet technology Continue Reading
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The lesson of TSB – testing, 1, 2, 3
An organisation’s IT system might look good on the surface, but you can’t fix a problem if you don’t know it’s there Continue Reading
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Want a 200% pay rise? If you do, let the robots do all the work
One of the newest Nobel economists has a theory, and if it's correct we'll all be in for a huge salary increase when the robots take over Continue Reading
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Your IT provider is being acquired – what does this mean for you and your business?
Merger and acquisition activity is widespread in the IT sector, but what does it mean for you when one of your key tech suppliers is bought up by another firm? Continue Reading
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Why your marketing team needs help from IT more than ever
Some IT and marketing departments have a troubled history of working together, but better collaboration is essential to make a success of digital transformation Continue Reading
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Why #techmatters – the challenge for everyone in the UK tech community
The UK technology sector faces unprecedented challenges – and opportunities – but we must never lose sight of the fact that it exists to make people’s lives better Continue Reading
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Digital transformation is just business change
Don't always start with the technology if you're driving transformation, but always start with the business Continue Reading
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Bridging the gender pay gap in the technology industry
Publication of gender pay gap figures for large organisations shows the tech sector has a long way to go to back up its rhetoric about equal opportunities Continue Reading
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Big data skills shortages – and how to work around them
Businesses are finding it hard to recruit enough people with big data and analytics skills, but for CIOs there are alternative strategies to consider Continue Reading
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Tier 2 visas – a challenge for the tech sector
With staff shortages already being reported in the technology sector and Brexit potentially adding to the problem, tech departments need to get their Tier 2 visa applications right Continue Reading
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Beware of the digital bandwagon
The rush to become ‘digital by default’ could drive costs up and have a damaging effect on understanding customer demand, writes John Seddon Continue Reading
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If we're measuring GDP wrong in a digital world, what does that say about the economy?
Conventional measures of economic success such as GDP fail to account for the nature of free digital services. How different would the UK economy appear if that changed? Continue Reading
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GDPR and the right to erasure: hiding in the shadows or welcome shade?
The European Union's new data protection laws introduce a right to be forgotten – but what does it means for corporate IT? Continue Reading
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After the TSB debacle, is it time for IT people to run retail banking?
Given that high-street banks are effectively little more than a computer system processing algorithms, would they be better off run by tech experts than bankers? Continue Reading
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The seven levers of digital transformation
Organisations that embark on digital transformation projects often run into difficulties. Following the seven principles of digital transformation will help them reap the benefits of digital technology Continue Reading
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Diversity matters – International Women’s Day 2018
The tech sector has a poor reputation for workplace diversity - if we are to take advantage of the opportunities of the digital economy, this has to change Continue Reading
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Bitcoin is a bubble, but manias can have economic benefits
The UK's railway mania, the tulip bubble, the dot com boom and other collective economic madness – such as bitcoin – might lose people a lot of money, but they often lay down important foundations Continue Reading
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We must avoid the Brexit risks to London's tech community
London's chief digital officer warns of the risks to jobs, innovation and investment if the UK pursues a hard Brexit when leaving the EU Continue Reading
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Why CryptoKitties shows the future of humanity in the robot age
Spending millions on blockchain-based cat collectibles might seem trivial, but it explains why economists aren’t worried about robots taking all our jobs Continue Reading
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What a year it’s been for tech in the UK
2017 was the year technology rose to prominence in government and business agendas – and the sector needs to keep that momentum going into 2018 Continue Reading
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How to boost your personal brand as an IT professional
Seven steps to help you build a personal brand in the workplace, articulate the value you provide and build your professional reputation Continue Reading
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How to futureproof your career as a CIO
Many CIOs have yet to earn the right to be on the board. How can IT leaders upgrade their business acumen, to benefit their own careers and the health of their employer? Continue Reading
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Empowerment is the key to a connected society
It's not just technology that will determine our digital future – the ethical, social and political decisions taken now will have an impact on all of us Continue Reading
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Why Europe’s GDPR privacy regulation is good for business
Organisations will need to become more sensitive about the way they handle personal information, but the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) also makes good business sense Continue Reading
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Newspaper woes show that when technology changes, everything changes
Traditionalists bemoan the declining finances of newspapers, but those old sources of revenue aren't coming back – technology has changed everything Continue Reading
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GDPR for the CIO: Data protection is about more than GDPR compliance
If you approach GDPR as if compliance is all that matters, then you're bound to fail – data protection should be at the heart of business strategy Continue Reading
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How to make the right technology choice
Organisations need digital technology, but how do you decide which is the best technology for you? The answer is not to make one big decision, but many small ones. Thinking about technology, behaviour and data will help you find the right answers Continue Reading
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The digital economy is making us poorer - but that can't be right
Use of WhatsApp as an example of productivity growth and economic measures tells us we're worse off. Are we therefore measuring the numbers wrongly? Continue Reading
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The children of the digital revolution
Digital professionals are emerging as the source of expertise within the agile enterprise. They understand how to use digital technologies, starting small then building big Continue Reading
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The high price of not understanding how automation works with existing software licences
Businesses must check their software licences before they introduce robotic process automation or they risk breaking the rules Continue Reading
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Strategy in business and learning to map – should you take the blue pill or the red pill?
Devising business strategy means more than gut feel or copying others – the technique of mapping offers a better way to competitive advantage Continue Reading
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The Google memo on diversity should be a learning opportunity
Google's knee-jerk reaction did not tackle the root cause of the controversial employee memo Continue Reading
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Unleashing digital talent for fun and profit
With all the talk of data as the ‘new oil’, organisations can easily forget that talent – people – are the heart of delivering digital change Continue Reading
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How creative and innovative can technology made in China be?
China's IT industry is becoming more Silicon Valley-like and, as a result, more attractive to the CIOs of western enterprises Continue Reading
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Donald Trump, the iPhone, and creating value in technology manufacturing
The US president’s desire for Apple to build iPhones in the US misses the point – in an international sector such as tech, the real value is not in manufacturing finished goods Continue Reading
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The challenge of our era - digital transformation at Allianz
The insurance firm wants to become "digital by default" and its CIO explains the vital role DevOps and cloud play in its change programme Continue Reading
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The digital revolution: push or pull?
The “digital revolution” has parallels with the 1889 Land Rush in Oklahoma. Some succeeded, some failed and others wished they had never set off on the journey Continue Reading
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Why now is the time to appoint a chief agility officer
Companies need to innovate and find new ways of getting products to the market more quickly. Appointing a chief agility officer to the board will help Continue Reading
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How the iPhone shows the value of innovation in a capitalist economy
Ten years of watching the iPhone transform markets around the world demonstrates the economic value of technology innovation Continue Reading
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Why users don't always know what they need
The economic concept of revealed preference can often tell IT managers more about what their users want than users themselves Continue Reading
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Architecting the digital enterprise
A survey of almost 4,500 IT leaders in 90 countries shows that the fastest-growing area of demand in IT this year is for enterprise architects. It is not a skills shortage, but an adoption lag Continue Reading
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In an age of uncertainty, now is the time to rethink your outsourcing strategy
Brexit and Trump are not only creating challenges but also opportunities in the outsourcing sector, and outsourcing deals will need to be flexible to exploit them Continue Reading
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The growing influence of the CIO
The role of IT leaders has changed radically over the past decade. Today, digital technology is bringing CIOs new opportunities, higher budgets and the chance to make a strategic difference Continue Reading
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How can CIOs drive innovation?
Three steps CIOs can take to help them take the lead in driving innovation in their organisations. Continue Reading
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The UK’s new mayors must think digital
The election of new mayors in devolved regions offers an opportunity to advance digital transformation of local public services Continue Reading
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Executive upgrade required – do you have the digital skills to succeed in the 21st century?
Business leaders cannot adequately take advantage of digital technologies unless they have the necessary digital skills themselves Continue Reading
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Cyber defence just one of the skills next-gen IT professionals will need
Emerging technologies, the impact of Brexit and fintech companies are creating new opportunities for the next generation of IT professionals Continue Reading
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Winning in the 21st century – digital is not enough
Organisations have not changed sufficiently from 20th century operating models – but successful companies have developed a new outlook Continue Reading
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Building business value with IT4IT
To reinvent IT, CIOs must go beyond current process-based approaches and equip their teams with the right information and tools, completely automate end-to-end workflows, and provide the business with the controls to govern IT Continue Reading
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It’s the business model, stupid – three steps to transform UK public services
The government urgently needs to shift from ‘pipes to platforms’ to realise the benefits of digital disruption Continue Reading
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How CIOs trap themselves by recycling the same talent
Research pointing to talent standing in the way of CIOs achieving their objectives suggests a lack of innovation. It’s now time to think differently Continue Reading
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The digital opportunity for CIOs
CIOs have a unique opportunity to lead the digital strategy in their organisations, but they have to move quickly to make sure they have the right skills and infrastructure in place Continue Reading
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Whitehall, GDS and town halls must back a digital revolution in local public services
About 80% of public services are delivered by local councils – but Whitehall policy, Government Digital Service strategy and devolution plans are not focusing enough on local digital needs Continue Reading
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A global, digital Britain will only succeed with global tech talent
Government plans for a Brexit Britain must take into account the international nature of tech talent in its approach to immigration Continue Reading
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Gary McKinnon: Why Lauri Love should be spared the nightmare of extradition
Computer activist Lauri Love should be spared a life sentence in a US jail, says former hacker Gary McKinnon Continue Reading