What about today's IT leaders?

James Gardner’s comments are unfortunately an accurate reflection of IT in many businesses (Tomorrow’s IT Leaders will come in from the edges). IT is commonly an inward-looking silo, focused on process and service instead of business outcome, and driven by methodologies such as Itil instead of corporate performance. But to suggest that the solution lies in the hands of the next generation of IT leaders is misleading.

Some of us experienced IT directors and CIOs, who have risen to business leadership roles, are already in the business of changing the IT leadership landscape and the understanding of IT’s purpose in organisations.

We are mentoring, leading, training and changing the way that both IT leaders and business leaders see the role of IT. We are enabling IT leaders to become business leaders and business innovators.There are only a few of us leading this movement at the moment, but we are doing so from a position of experience and wisdom. We are sharing revelations and knowledge that cannot be acquired in the classroom.

So I disagree with James on one fundamental point: it is today’s IT leaders who are spreading their wings. We don’t have to wait for the next generation; by the time they arrive we will have already shaped the future for them.

Steve Burrows