The 3 Envelope Rule with a CIO Twist

I saw this in a recent posting and think it sums up the challenges of being a CIO quite nicely.

First day on the job as the new CIO you notice 3 envelopes in the top drawer of your desk. The first envelope says “Open Me.” Inside is a note from your predecessor that provides insight on the organisation, issues, culture, concerns, etc. You read it, throw it in the trash and go about your business as the new CIO. A year later you’re not happy with the progress of the organisation and you remember the second envelope that says “Open me if you are not happy with the way things are going.” You open it and a single word is written on a piece of paper; “Reorganise.” You take the advice this time and spend several months forming teams and reorganising hoping to get results linked to the business. You call it “IT Transformation.” Another year goes by and things are marginally improving but you are still unhappy with the results. The business is unhappy with IT and the CEO is unhappy due to growing costs. You notice the third envelope that says “Open me if things still are not the way you would like them.” You open it and it says; “Create 3 envelopes.”

The moral of the story is to not get hung up on big transformation projects and reorganisation to create yet another organisation that is not functional. Make changes in small, manageable pieces and make sure any change is linked to improving the business of IT or the business of your company.

,

40 Responses to The 3 Envelope Rule with a CIO Twist

  1. Werbeartikel Kugelschreiber 15th July 2011 at 10:16 PM #

    Like the fresh layout. I loved the content. Thanks a lot for the perfect posting.

  2. Josiah 16th July 2011 at 12:54 PM #

    Hi and thanks for making the effort to describe the terminlogy towards the beginners!

  3. wodomierze kraków 8th February 2012 at 3:08 PM #

    Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .

  4. piaskowanie wroclaw 9th February 2012 at 2:54 AM #

    Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.

  5. kosiarki do trawy 9th February 2012 at 3:19 PM #

    I have read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a great informative site.

  6. Della 10th February 2012 at 4:46 AM #

    hello there, outstanding blog site, and a great understand! at least one for my bookmarks.

  7. Abram 10th February 2012 at 9:08 PM #

    Extremely good piece of writing, I will be browsing back frequently to watch out for upgrades.

  8. leczenie kanalowe pod mikroskopem warszawa 10th February 2012 at 11:03 PM #

    I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly. I’m quite sure I will learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

  9. zegarki hurtownia 13th February 2012 at 4:33 PM #

    Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful information here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  10. trawniki z rolki 13th February 2012 at 4:45 PM #

    Hey there, You have done a fantastic job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this website.

  11. urzadzenia do cwiczen 13th February 2012 at 4:46 PM #

    It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  12. wybielanie zebów warszawa 13th February 2012 at 5:09 PM #

    I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

  13. naprawa ploterów 13th February 2012 at 8:50 PM #

    Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  14. przewóz mebli wroclaw 13th February 2012 at 9:08 PM #

    Usually I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice article.

  15. sprzedaz ekranów led 13th February 2012 at 10:17 PM #

    I just wanted to develop a small note to be able to appreciate you for all of the remarkable recommendations you are sharing at this website. My prolonged internet investigation has finally been paid with reliable strategies to share with my friends and family. I would express that we site visitors are unquestionably fortunate to dwell in a great place with very many brilliant individuals with good advice. I feel truly lucky to have discovered your entire web pages and look forward to plenty of more amazing minutes reading here. Thanks again for all the details.

  16. telebimy reklamowe 13th February 2012 at 10:18 PM #

    I just could not depart your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts

  17. wieczory kawalerskie 14th February 2012 at 4:02 PM #

    I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

  18. wypozyczalnia sprzetu budowlanego warszawa 14th February 2012 at 4:13 PM #

    hi!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I need an expert on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.

  19. biura rachunkowe warszawa bemowo 14th February 2012 at 6:43 PM #

    Thanks for another magnificent post. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.

  20. tusze 14th February 2012 at 9:05 PM #

    Great website. Lots of useful information here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!

  21. giecie rur 15th February 2012 at 2:53 PM #

    Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  22. lego 15th February 2012 at 6:42 PM #

    Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.

  23. okna drewniane wroclaw 15th February 2012 at 6:42 PM #

    I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.

  24. wyniki lotto 15th February 2012 at 6:42 PM #

    wonderful post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!

  25. suknie slubne kraków 15th February 2012 at 6:44 PM #

    Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.

  26. profesjonalne srodki czyszczace 15th February 2012 at 9:02 PM #

    You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

  27. prawo jazdy kraków 17th February 2012 at 4:02 PM #

    I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!

  28. Carmen 19th February 2012 at 12:49 PM #

    Greetings I stumbled on your webpage by mistake when i searched AOL for this subject, I have to point out your site is really valuable I also really like the style, it is good!

  29. Marvin Schecter 20th February 2012 at 6:34 PM #

    This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!

  30. materace 21st February 2012 at 8:53 PM #

    Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is wonderful, let alone the content!

  31. wisla noclegi 22nd February 2012 at 3:31 PM #

    Great work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)

  32. zarzadzanie nieruchomosciami warszawa 22nd February 2012 at 9:26 PM #

    I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one today..

  33. meble na wymiar 23rd February 2012 at 8:53 PM #

    Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is just great and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the gratifying work.

  34. Mania Articles 25th February 2012 at 3:36 AM #

    It’s hard to find proficient people on this theme, however you sound like you realize what you’re talking about! Cheers

  35. Diego Dari 27th February 2012 at 5:31 AM #

    Your blog is the greatest I have seen for a long time!

  36. siatka ogrodzeniowa powlekana 5th March 2012 at 8:15 PM #

    This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  37. Damien Killinger 5th March 2012 at 11:15 PM #

    Love the layout of the site. Looks like a theme I’m using.

  38. Frank Midgley 10th March 2012 at 5:49 AM #

    I like what you guys are up too. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site 🙂

  39. Delbert Strohmeier 24th May 2012 at 1:37 PM #

    I’m impressed, I must say. Actually not often do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you could have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is outstanding; the problem is one thing that not sufficient persons are talking intelligently about. I’m very glad that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing referring to this.

  40. Blake Twitty 9th August 2012 at 1:44 PM #

    I really like your writing style, great information, thanks for posting : D.

Leave a Reply to kosiarki do trawyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.