Acknowledgements.

Part 1. Building the Necessary Skills and Relationships.

Chapter 1: Key IT Skills to Have.

The CIO and the CTO—What’s the Difference?

The Changing Role of the CIO.

State of the CIO.

How Important Are Core Technology Skills?

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 2: Methodologies, Projects, and IT Change Management.

What Are Methodologies and Why Are They Important?

Project Management—The Key to Success.

IT Change Management—The Key to Minimizing Unnecessary Downtime.

Change Management Automation Tools.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 3: IT Standards and Governance.

The Importance and Benefits of IT Governance.

IT Policies and Procedures.

IT Standards.

IT Strategies, Investments, and Budgeting.

Communicating IT Standards, Policies, and Processes.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 4: Learn the Business and Build Key Relationships.

Think Like a Consultant to Learn the Business.

How to Build Effective Relationships—Internal and External.

Getting Quick Wins to Establish Credibility and Trust.

Focus on Delivery, Delivery, Delivery.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 5: Effective Communication Skills and Styles.

Break Out and Communicate.

Think, Write, and Speak.

Managing Expectations.

Communicating Project Wins—Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Part 2. Preparing for the Role of the CIO.

Chapter 6: What Executive Recruiters Are Looking For.

Recruiting Trends for IT Executives.

Contacting and Working with an Executive Recruiter.

Preparing for a Meeting with an Executive Recruiter and Negotiating to Win.

Survey Results from Executive Recruiters.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 7: Building the Right Network.

Develop Your Technology and Business Network Early.

Where Do Consultants and Vendors Fit In?

Find a Solid Mentor.

Don’t Ignore Your Staff.

Great Forums for Networking.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 8: Vendor and Sports Management.

Partnerships—The Key to Success.

Measuring Performance.

Knowing When to Outsource.

The Secret to Outsourcing Success.

Integrating Sports to Build Relationships and Grow Your Network.

How Much Business Is Done Out of the Office?

The Vendor Response.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 9: Contract Negotiation and Financial Management.

Contract Negotiation Tips and Best Practices.

Service Level Agreements.

Financial Management—Think Like a CFO and Act Like a CIO.

Budgeting and Forecasting—Aligning IT with Business Strategy.

Tools to Minimize Financial Risk.

Making Friends with the CFO.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 10: Risk/Reward and Knowing When to Jump.

Risk and Reward—Nothing Wagered, Nothing Gained.

How to Mitigate Risks and Still Succeed.

Common Mistakes Made.

When It Makes Sense to Jump to the Next Company.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.

Chapter 11: The Role of the CIO—Enabler and Visionary.

Expectations for New CIOs.

The Top Five Mistakes Most Often Made by CIOs.

The First 100 Days—Tips from World-Class CIOs.

CEO and CIO Common Gaps in Expectations.

What Did I Do to Prepare?

Recommendations.