Tools CIOs Can Use
Management consulting tools for CIOs
A recommendation has to survive a steering committee that did not ask for it.
These are the structured methods consultants bring to an engagement: an outside view for estimates, a pre-mortem for incentives, options thinking for investments and a one-page strategy. Start with the estimate, because every later argument depends on it.
Downloads
Files you keep and edit: PDF, Excel, Word or PowerPoint. Most show part of the file before you ask for it.
- WorksheetReference-Class Estimation WorksheetA worksheet that turns past projects' overruns into a low, likely and high range for a new project's estimate.
- Facilitation worksheetIncentive-Design Pre-MortemA workshop worksheet that predicts how a new metric, KPI or bonus scheme will be gamed before it ships.
- WorksheetReal Options Naming WorksheetA worksheet that names the options a capital investment holds, so a review sees the flexibility a DCF leaves out.
- ChecklistSunk-Cost Circuit-BreakerA kill-criteria checklist that sets the stop conditions for a migration or program before it starts.
- WorksheetIssue Tree WorksheetBreak a problem into MECE branches, with a why tree for causes, a how tree for solutions, and a hypothesis, analysis and owner per branch.
- Worksheet2x2 Prioritization MatrixScore initiatives 1 to 5 on value and on effort or risk, plot them on a 2x2 matrix, and record a decision for each.
- WorksheetStakeholder MapMap a program's stakeholders on power and interest, compare current and needed stance, and plan each one's engagement, cadence and owner.
- TemplateOne-Page Board Memo TemplateAn answer-first board memo: the ask, the recommendation, three supported points, options, risks, cost and the cost of doing nothing, on one page.
Online tools
Fill in the page and get the result on screen. No account needed.
Apps
Enter your situation and get the analysis back: a score, a draft or a plan. They run with a CIOPages account.
Part of the job Choose and buy technology.
Other sets
- Deciding where AI goes
- Cutting cloud and SaaS spend
- Governing the AI already in use
- Buying AI: vendors and models
- Buying technology without regret
- AI regulation and risk
- Architecture decisions that hold up
- Technical debt you can show the CFO
- Security platform evaluations
- Running IT like an investment portfolio
- Org design and decision rights
- The first 100 days as a CIO
- Board and budget season
- Incidents and resilience