CIOs: The Playbook to Prove IT’s Business Value to the CEO and Board
Abdulla Pathan
Award-Winner CIO | Driving Global Revenue Growth & Operational Excellence via AI, Cloud, & Digital Transformation | LinkedIn Top Voice in Innovation, AI, ML, & Data Governance | Delivering Scalable Solutions & Efficiency
IT Spending is Up—But Where’s the ROI?
?? Enterprise IT budgets continue to grow, yet 67% of CFOs say digital investments haven’t met expectations (Gartner, 2025).
?? Meanwhile, 70% of digital leaders struggle to advance transformation goals.
The problem? CIOs are still talking technology metrics, while executives care about business outcomes.
?? CIOs who reposition IT as a growth driver—not a cost center—will gain more influence, investment, and strategic leadership roles.
This article, based on Gartner’s CIO Webinar Series, lays out a four-step strategy to shift IT from a support function to a boardroom powerhouse.
1?? Know What the Business Values—Not Just What IT Delivers
?? Before CIOs can prove IT’s value, they need to understand what "value" means for their stakeholders.
Best Practices:
? Identify key decision-makers (CEO, CFO, Board, Business Leaders).
? Define their top priorities (Revenue growth, cost efficiency, market expansion, risk reduction).
? Tie IT outcomes to these business goals.
? Continuously validate and adjust based on evolving priorities.
?? Example: Instead of saying: “We implemented a new ERP system.” Say: “We reduced operational costs by 25% and increased order fulfillment speed by 40% with our new ERP system.”
?? Takeaway: Speak their language—show the impact, not the IT project.
2?? Drop the Tech Jargon. Speak in Business Terms.
?? Executives don’t care about IT infrastructure. They care about business performance. CIOs must reframe IT discussions in boardroom language.
?? Pro Tip: Every IT conversation should link back to profitability, growth, efficiency, or risk reduction.
3?? Tell Two Stories: "Run the Business" vs. "Change the Business"
Most CIOs focus on day-to-day IT operations (Run the Business)—but the board wants to hear about transformation and innovation (Change the Business).
?? The "Run" Story – Keeping the Business Operational (Harder to Sell)
?? Example:
? “Maintained 99.99% uptime.”
? “Ensured $10M in uninterrupted sales transactions during peak holiday shopping.”
?? The "Change" Story – Driving Growth (Easier to Sell)
?? Example:
? “Implemented an AI-driven analytics platform.”
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? “Enabled a 20% increase in cross-sell revenue through predictive analytics.”
?? Takeaway: Every IT investment should have both a Run and Change impact.
4?? Use Business Dashboards to Show IT’s Impact—Not Just IT Performance
?? Executives don’t want to see server logs. They want data that drives business decisions.
What CIO Dashboards Should Include:
? Cost Savings (Automation, cloud optimization, IT efficiency).
? Revenue Growth (Digital sales, customer retention impact).
? Speed & Agility (Time-to-market, innovation acceleration).
? Risk Reduction (Cybersecurity posture, regulatory compliance).
?? Example: Intel’s IT Performance Report Intel’s IT team transitioned to Agile and DevOps, leading to:
?? Product launches in hours instead of months.
?? 20% reduction in IT costs by optimizing spending.
?? Improved collaboration and visibility across departments.
?? Pro Tip: Make IT dashboards business-facing—not just IT-facing.
?? Real-World CIO Success: How One IT Leader Proved Business Value
?? Case Study: St. Ann’s Community
?? Takeaway: When IT is measured in business impact—not tech outputs—it gets the funding and influence it deserves.
?? The CIO Playbook: How to Prove IT’s Business Value
? Align IT strategy with executive priorities.
? Use business language, not IT jargon.
? Tell both "Run the Business" and "Change the Business" stories.
? Use executive dashboards that show IT’s contribution to revenue and growth.
?? CIOs who master these steps will go from IT operators to strategic business leaders.
?? What strategies have worked for you in proving IT’s business value? Share your insights in the comments!
?? Related Resources:
#CIO #ITLeadership #DigitalTransformation #TechInvestments #BusinessValue
Founder - Leadership Development SaaS Platform "GOALS N U", Investor, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Design Thinking Master Practitioner, Director on Board, Indian Society of NLP, Six Sigma Black Belt, ACC
1 个月Aligning IT's value with business outcomes is crucial. I've seen innovation culture make a big difference. #CIO #Innovation
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1 个月Fantastic insights, Abdulla! Your breakdown of how CIOs can shift IT from a cost center to a strategic growth driver is incredibly valuable. The emphasis on business-aligned storytelling and impact-driven dashboards is key to gaining executive buy-in. Another important aspect to consider is IT’s role in sustainability and ESG initiatives. With increasing regulatory and investor focus on sustainability, CIOs can position IT as a driver of energy-efficient operations, digital transformation that reduces waste, and AI-driven optimizations for carbon footprint reduction. Aligning IT with ESG goals can further strengthen its strategic importance at the board level. "Success comes when you align knowledge with purpose."