CIO's 'five questions' in EDUCAUSE
University of Utah CIO Eric Denna often mentions his “five questions” when discussing why he and other UIT leaders are choosing to take the organization down a certain path.
In the latest issue of EDUCAUSE Review, Denna shares a bit about how he arrived at those five questions, and how they can be used to maximum effect for assessing and strategically repositioning technology efforts in any kind of business or institution.
The five questions are:
- Whom do we serve, and what do they (those we intend to serve) want/need/have to do?
- What services do we provide so that those we serve can do what they want/need/have to do?
- How do we know we are doing a great job?
- How do we provide the services?
- How do we organize?
“Often, when I share these questions with others and tell them that this is at the heart of what I do as a CIO, they look at me with a ‘that's it?’ expression,” Denna writes in the article. “I typically respond by saying: ‘Just try to answer the questions for yourself. If you are really brave, have your leadership team answer them, and then share the answers with one another.’
“My experience is that the first time team members answer the five questions and then share the answers with one another, inevitably a very interesting discussion ensues.”
You can read the full article on EDUCAUSE’s website, www.educause.edu.