''Know how you organization makes money and plan your initiatives accordingly. Set and focus don’t get distracted. Take calculated risks, learn from mistakes and quickly adjust'

MICHAEL ENDSLEY
CIO
Emerson Network Power

Michael Endsley is the Chief Information Officer at Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson and a global leader in maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure. In this role, he is  responsible for managing an efficient and innovative global IT enterprise focused on delivering applications and services for the company and its  customers. He brings two decades of IT experience working a variety of leadership capacities in  technology, operations and application. Prior to Emerson, he spent more than 18 years in the  automotive industry in various global IT leadership positions.

Challenges in technology to meet enterprise needs in 2013 and expectations.

Consumers, including our own employees, can’t get their hands on new technologies fast enough, and that trend is showing no signs of slowing down. BYOD and mobility impact our  workforce. People want their information anywhere, at any time, and on any device. This  requires an additional layer of security; it’s no longer just perimeter security, but also data and  application security. Mobile device management is becoming critical, and infrastructure must be  lexible and secure to support this  dynamic.

My roles and responsibilities as a CIO

As the CIO of a technology company that serves CIOs and other IT leaders, I’ve had the chance  o play a deepening role in the business strategy, helping to develop the product technology  trategy that best addresses CIOs’ challenges. In addition, I focus on making IT a weapon in the  competitive arsenal vs a cost center.

Technology Trends Impacting Enterprise Business
Environment

Consumerization of IT – Consumerization is forcing IT  organizations to be more agile and  faster than ever. Our customers’ and employees’ expectations are driving the need for rapid  improvements in the user experience. Having a reliable, flexible IT infrastructure is paramount  to meeting these needs, as is visibility – the ability to map a potential change and all its impacts  n real time. Big Data Analytics - Most businesses want more data than everin order to  be certain they are  making the right decisions, conversely most business executives are  drowning in data. It’s about relevant business data and getting into something that  is  actionable. A comprehensive  business intelligence system is a way to solve this complex  problem.

Lessons I learned as a CIO that can help you

1. Know how your organization makes money and plan your initiatives accordingly. Set and  focus; don’t get distracted. 2. Every major program must have the following to ensure success  and positively impact shareholder value: • Committed sponsorship • Aligned management  team • Reliable funding • Dedicated resources 3. Do not separate IT and the business. I’ve  found that some IT employees like to distinguish between IT and business. Do not allow that.  You are all a part of the success of the enterprise. “Us and them” language builds walls and  holds everyone back. For example, IT and Marketing have partnered to improve our digital  customer experience. We have jointly taken ownership of this initiative. 4. Take calculated risks,  learn from mistakes and quickly adjust. The key to this is having a robust and mature program governance methodology. Over that past few years, we have introduced those concepts and as  a result, we have a clearer understanding of the business risks prior to implementation. This  governance process quickly identifies shortfalls and allows for adjustments to the strategy. 5.  Above all, make sure your organization and infrastructure are fast, agile and flexible to keep up  with dynamic business needs and increased reliance on IT.