CIO Priority Resolutions in 2004

Create a competency center for business process skills

More than a third of IS leaders see business process improvement as a key issue for 2004. Business process fusion will be an important enabler of the RTE, and will unlock the full value of Web services-oriented business applications via process-centered change. But at least half of midsize-to-large enterprises lack adequately staffed process competency centers.

Specialist skills in process mapping, modeling and modification can be supplied by external services providers (ESPs), but most often cannot substitute for a lack of experienced, process-articulate staff that have a knowledge of industry operating models. IS could proactively bridge this gap by "re-tooling" the IT workforce toward higher-level contributions, especially as more programming and data center operations work is outsourced.

Build processes and skills for managing partnerships

Business strategies are becoming concerned with external partners and stakeholders, with agility, and with the RTE. Examples include the creation of an e-business market with new partners, a merger or acquisition, and the use of ESPs. Enterprise partnerships will become a critical focus for IT value.

By 2005, more than a quarter of IT capital budgets in at least 70 percent of large and midsize enterprises will be directed to transforming the enterprise using external focus and agility (0.7 probability).

IT leaders should champion opportunities for IT-enabled business partnership strategies and align competencies and architecture capabilities with them.