The document discusses alternatives to consider for IT decision-making and strategies, including: 1) Consulting contractors who focus only on immediate problems versus an IT Counsel who evaluates long-term needs and identifies optimal solutions from within the organization. 2) Hiring a full-time CIO for $85,000-$250,000 annually versus working with an IT Counsel on an as-needed basis for specific projects and issues. 3) How an IT Counsel can help overworked internal IT staff by taking on strategic work and training them to be more valuable to the organization.

1. Stop pouring resources
into
technology
black
holes

2. I.T. Decision making:
“quick fix” vs. “wise counsel”
Just get it working again Evaluate, optimize, save
 Consultants & Contractors
 Focus on the current problem
 Use only “their” solutions
 Sells “their” solution: “Buy!”
 Once system is running: “Bye!”
 IT Counsel
 Identifies problems, future needs,
AND solutions for them all
 Crowd sources solutions from inside
your organization
 Recommends optimal solutions and
then manages contractors
 Coaches your business through the
process of aligning resources to
solve IT problems

3. I.T. Strategies:
C.I.O. vs. IT Counsel
“Full time” strategic officer “As needed” IT strategist
 $85,000 to $250,000 per year
 Permanent employee hire
 Internal perspective
 Your interests come first.
 Works with consultants and
contractors
 Billed monthly or hourly
 Use only when needed
 Global perspective
 Your interests come first.
 Identifies and manages optimal
consultants and contractors

4. Do you need a CIO?
 “CIOs drive value—both top line and bottom line—for
their companies” Forbes, 2015
 CIOs use “the most relevant news and analysis, to help
them connect the dots between technology trends and
business strategy.” Wall Street Journal, 2015
Your IT Counsel gives you the benefits of a CIO:
 affordably
 on an as-needed basis

5. Your current IT staff
 Stressed
 Preoccupied with “fixing it right now”
 Outlook focused on “right here, right now”
Some consultants & contractors disrupt operations and
can antagonize/alienate your staff with “band aid”
fixes.
IT Counsel motivates and trains your IT managers
to be more valuable and loyal.

6. You
&
Your IT Counsel
Consultants
&
Contractors
Improve The Business Relationship

7. Customer references:
 Education Corporation of America
 UAB
 Wells Fargo
 Baptist Health Systems
 HH Gregg
IT Counsel Offices:
Birmingham, AL San Francisco, CA

8. The next steps…
We recommend four sequential steps:
First, a meeting with your IT manager to:
introduce IT Counsel services
learn about your organization
Second, a meeting to discuss how your IT Counsel can start helping your
organization gain productivity through optimized IT
Third, your IT Counsel develops and presents a detailed proposal from the
second meeting discussions. Your organization takes time to consider it all.
Fourth, your organization and your IT Counsel agree on a proposal and start work