HUNTER MULLER is President and Chief Executive Officer of HMG Strategy, LLC, a global IT strategy consulting firm. Muller’s ideas and programs have been adopted by corporations worldwide and have proven to enhance executive performance, improve collaboration, elevate the role of IT, and align enterprise strategy across the topmost levels of management.

• Foreword xiAcknowledgments xiiiPreface xvChapter 1 The New Normal 1Executive Summary 1The Best CIOs Know that Results Trump Technology 4Leadership Excellence Is a Critical Competitive Advantage 5The Big Shift Is Vital in a Customer-Centric Global Economy 6The Big Shift Is a Total Game Changer 87 Action Steps for CIOs Who Are Ready for the Big Shift 10Rapidly Changing Technology Plays Directly to CIOs’ Strengths 12The Big Shift Embraces and Accepts the Realities of Customer-Centric IT 14CIO Focus Shifts from Creating Internal Productivity to Driving External Value 15Competitive Success Is Linked to Collaboration and Innovation 17Shifting Consumer Demands Require CIOs to Adjust to the Experience Economy 19Shifting Consumer Economy Raises the Bar for CIOs 21Case Closed: IT Still Matters 23Notes 24Chapter 2 The CIO and the C-Suite 27Executive Summary 27Speaking the Language of Business Is Essential for Exceptional CIOs and IT Leaders 31Leverage the Power of Great Habits to Drive Relationships across the C-Suite 33Maintain Relevancy and Set the Agenda 35Team Leaders Are Not Lone Heroes 37Leaders Need “Triple Package” of Critical Traits 39In Changing Times, Innovative Leadership Is a Critical Asset 41Are You Proactive or Reactive? 43Leaders Build Trust, across the C-Suite and within 45Preparing for the Future of IT Includes Waging the War for Talent 46Find the Best People—You’ll Need Them as IT Expands Its Role 48Achieving the Right Mix of Talent and Technical Abilities 50Why I’m Genuinely Optimistic about the Future of IT 52Notes 54Chapter 3 Innovation 55Executive Summary 55Great CIOs Leverage Innovation to Create New Products and Drive Real Growth for the Business 59CIOs Are Essential for Enabling Innovation 61CIOs Are Evolving from Tactical Support to Strategic Leadership 63Leaders Create Tangible Value for the Modern Enterprise 65Bringing the Consumer Service Experience into the Modern Global Enterprise 67Leaders Leverage the Interplay between Consumer and Business Technologies 69CIO Leadership Must Move beyond the Boundaries of Traditional IT 71Great CIOs Learn the Business’s Needs and Use IT to Drive Success across the Enterprise 73Chapter 4 Exceptional Leadership 77Executive Summary 77Great CIOs Leverage Trust and Deep Knowledge to Provide Real Business Value in Rapidly Changing Times 81Great CIOs and IT Vendors Work Together on Long-Term Strategy 83Keep IT Relevant to the Business in Modern Dynamic Markets 85Use Best Practices for Building Bridges across the C-Suite 87Will CIOs Experience Similar Career Trajectories as CFOs? 90When Building Tighter Relationships with the C-Suite, Location Matters 93Delivering Real Business Value from Technology Investments 95Transforming Vendor Relationships from Transactional to Strategic 97In EMEA, Demand Rises for Two Types of CIOs 100Forecast: Trends Point to Growth for Visionary CIOs and IT Leaders 102Note 104Chapter 5 How Much, How Fast? 105Executive Summary 105Create a Smart Process for Engaging Successfully with SaaS Providers 109Great CIOs Know When They Have Hit the Limits of IT Outsourcing 111Building Trust in the Enterprise Requires Focus, Energy, and Great Leadership 113Use the CenterPoint to Maintain Alignment, Adapt to Change, and Sustain Execution 116Build Deep Foundations of Trust with Simple Contracts 118True Leaders Embrace the Challenge and Accept the Risk 119Notes 121Chapter 6 Security, Big Data, and the Internet of Things 123Executive Summary 123You Can’t Build a Wall High Enough to Keep out the Bad Guys 127Leveraging Data across the Enterprise 128The New Water Cooler for Better Decisions 131As Markets Evolve, IT Focus Shifts to Business Results 137Hadoop and the Enterprise Data Warehouse 139Great CIOs Perceive the Opportunities and Benefits of Consumer IT in the Enterprise 141Connected Devices Are Smarter and Smaller 143Transforming IT Is a Critical Step in Building Strong Relationships with the Business 145Create a Process and a Platform for Change and Innovation in the Modern Enterprise 147Worried about UI versus UX? Focus Instead on Delivering Great CX 149Will IT Build the New Front End for the Customer-Centric Enterprise? 151Smart Companies Leverage Innovation to Drive Value into the Business 153Great Firms Leverage the Skill and Expertise of Their CIOs Before Leaping into Newer Technologies 154Getting Serious about Cybersecurity 156Hunting on the Network: Q&A with Cybersecurity Expert Shawn Henry of CrowdStrike 158Dealing with Cyber Crime Requires a Realistic Mindset 166Focusing on Future Trends 173Five Key Trends that Are Fundamentally Transforming IT Leadership 177Notes 179Recommended Reading 181Meet Our Expert Sources 185About the Author 229About HMG Strategy LLC 231Index 233