The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance

Unlike other books, which merely discuss strategies important to the chief information officer, this volume discusses how the guidelines it recommends can actually be executed. The authors provide not only a survey of existing strategies but include detailed problem-solving ideas, such as how to structure optimal IT and telecom contracts with suppliers, the implications of SOP-98, and accounting for software costs. The book brings together two perspectives: that of a working CIO who must cope with the day-to-day pressure for results, and that of an IT audit consultant with a special focus on governance and internal control. Examples, charts, templates, and anecdotes supplement the material.

About the Authors

Eric J. Brown, RCDD, is a senior technology executive with more than 20 years experience implementing global IT solutions throughout Asia Pacific, the European Union, and Middle Eastern regions. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of NCI Building Systems, Inc., the largest manufacturer and marketer of metal building components and preengineered metal building systems in North America. With a workforce of 5,000 employees, NCI Building Systems provides extensive metal product lines under well-recognized brand names.

After joining NCI in June 2004, Brown developed an IT vision and strategy designed to strongly link information technology with NCI's key business objectives. The Information Technology Department has operational, strategic, and fiscal responsibility for the innovation, implementation, and advancement of technical solutions for all NCI divisions.

Prior to his position with NCI, Brown has been CIO of Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii; Senior Vice President and CIO for a global travel industry software development company; Vice President and CIO for a Chevron/Texaco company; and an executive with KPMG Consulting. In addition, he founded a professional services firm, cofounded two software consulting firms, and held a key position in two international start-ups. Past publications include "Lessons Learned in Telecom Negotiations" in CIO Decisions; "Create an MA&D Ready IS Organization" in Gartner CIO Signature Report; and "Achieving Success as a CIO" in Aspatore Books.

William A. Yarberry, Jr., CPA, CISA, is President, ICCM Consulting LLC, based in Houston, Texas. His practice is focused on IT governance, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, security consulting, and business analytics for cost management. He was previously a senior manager with Pricewaterhouse-Coopers, responsible for telecom and network services in the Southwest region. Yarberry has more than 30 years experience in a variety of IT-related services including application development, internal audit management, outsourcing negotiations and administration, and Sarbanes-Oxley consulting.

He is the author of the first and second editions of Computer Telephony Integration and the coauthor of Telecommunications Cost Management. In addition, he has written over 20 professional articles on topics ranging from wireless security to change management. One of his articles, "Audit Rights in an Outsource Environment," received the Institute of Internal Auditor's Outstanding Contributor Award.

Prior to joining PricewaterhouseCoopers, Yarberry was director of Telephony Services for Enron Corporation. He was responsible for operations, planning, and architectural design for voice communications servers and related systems for more than 7,000 employees. Yarberry is a University of Tennessee Phi Beta Kappa graduate in Chemistry. He earned an MBA at the University of Memphis. He enjoys reading, swimming, occasional scuba diving, and spending time with his family.