Executive Accountability (eBook)

Because technology reaches across and beyond the entire organization, there is a critical need for executive accountability, leadership, and involvement to achieve measurable business benefits from technology investments. Too often, the absence of strategic thinking, unverified technology benefits, ineffective organizational collaboration, and vague or dispersed managerial accountability seriously undermine the potential results that could otherwise be achieved from critical initiatives. The authors look realistically at how technology is chosen, how to evaluate existing technology, and how to deliver value. To change the typical pattern of failure, organizations must move away from the proliferation of blame. When accountability is not specified or when executives fail to take full ownership, the value technology delivers to the company is at risk. Executives can immediately improve the delivery of value from technology by implementing organization-wide collaboration and decision-making that ensures all voices are heard. A second crucial action to undertake is measurement, and this book describes the limits of only looking at problems from a financial perspective, identifies available tools, and offers new perspectives on measuring technology value. A third action is strategic initiative management, an oversight process that ensures that the consistent delivery of business benefits from technology initiatives is visible to executives while projects are under way.

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Better strategic decisions lead to higher customer acceptance, improved user satisfaction, and measurable business results. Using proven processes, frameworks, and tools, this book is a powerful resource for executives, business owners, and professionals looking to improve delivery of benefits from technology projects and manage risks. As the power of technology in the business world continues to grow, executive accountability, leadership, and involvement are critical to achieve measurable business benefits from technology investments. The authors look realistically at how technology is chosen, how to evaluate existing technology, and how to deliver value. Themes and topics include building open communication and productive collaboration; organization-wide structure, frameworks and tools for strategic decision-making; and risk management advice.