Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer “Canadian businesses need to plunge ahead with IT investments despite the global recession”

I love Steve Ballmer, he’s highly inspirational and entertaining in an-all-in one package. 

I like and don’t like his statement.  The wording “plunge” to me means something else, as per these definitions:

 

• “Embark on reckless action”… Ouch! known some people like that!
• “Gamble Recklessly”… I have done that!
• “Put somebody or someone into difficulties”… I try not to do that!

Just to be fair on the verb definitions I went to use MS Word Encarta dictionary to get them

Still too often, solutions that drive some desired business results are labelled technology and thus become too focused on database type, file location, I/O ( still not sure about that myself)network config and operating system  and so on.

In fact a week ago on a sales call with the SVP/CFO he brought along his IT Mgr for safety in case I dropped an IT “word bomb” on him… anybody that knows me… I know more about taking a tool set of imaging and workflow and applying it to a business units need…or I am IT puddle deep knowledge wise.

At the business unit they don’t care about the IT stuff in the early stages of looking for help… hence here’s a quote from 2 years ago “HOW TO HELP CIO’s bridge the gap between IT AND business units.” I am not picking on CIO’s at all, but in essence, not much has changed in 2 years… and I would say once the computing environment went out of the MIS department/mainframe era it’s actually gotten worse. Some good CIO’s are now saying wow, stop: we need to standardize, stop the spread of new apps and servers… that’s the good news… but how does Ballmer’s quote now stand up and fit with those CIO’s.

So I am all for slowing down a bit, getting your business plan and business units to assess what they need to do for; better service, reduction in costs, improved revenue, better supply chain, complaince, reporting etc.

Then lets go look for solutions to solve those needs, engage IT for the appropriate information and standards and let the “rewards role in” So instead of “plunge”… maybe these are better verbs; Direct – show the way, put on the right track, guide, target

Have a great day… still working on my ” Where’s your Business ATM”