FUTURE-READY WORKSPACE: THINKING TOGETHER

A 'can do' attitude is a hallmark of any successful CIO. In that professional role, you must keep the machinery of information management and communication running effectively no matter what happens. But the CIO profile has changed in recent years, and increasingly the role is expected to add value. Maximising value and minimising risk are two sides of the same coin.

By ensuring that the security policies of the enterprise allow it to work safely while collaborating productively with partners and clients, you protect and promote safe business practice.

By ensuring that specification and delivery are tightly aligned with commercial expectation, you lay the foundation for good long-term relationships and avoid the risks which result from lack of planning.

By liaising with analysts, peers and providers, you help keep the enterprise grounded with regard to innovation, helping reduce the risk incurred by going down technological dead-ends.

But nothing holds for long and change is today's reality. Since all change involves risk, it is one of the CIO's challenges. The effective CIO manages it quietly and positively, avoiding drama, providing improvement and ensuring continuity. In this scenario, the ability to manage risk is an essential skill, and in this short piece, we'll look at some of the guiding principles of risk management based on Getronics' own experience.