Making the business case for investing in technology

© Copyright, Risk Masters, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved. 1

RMI Risk Masters, Inc.

Communicating the Message that Matters…

Technical Skills, Business Experience

Allan M. CytrynPrincipal


RMI

Your role is to…• Explain clearly (and succinctly)• State the impact• Present alternatives• Lead a discussion to a positive

outcome

Leadership expects you to show…• Knowledge of the business• Knowledge of the subject matter• Thoughtfulness

Your Are Presenting IT Issues to Leadership…


RMI

Speak to people in their language

• Speak to others about issues relevant to them

Present facts• Avoid emotions

• Express opinions when asked

Avoid communication barriers, including…• Words that are ambiguous or have multiple meanings• Secret codes and acronyms

Anticipate and address misunderstandings

• Assume you are not understood until you have positive feedback

• Solicit feedback to assess if the listener understands

To Be Successful…


RMIYou Are Meeting the Board…

OGC COO CFO CEO


RMITo Request Funds to Enhance IT Security…

We have a big problem! They discovered

the bogus expenses?!

Memo to Self: Check Golden

Parachute

OGC COO CFO CEO

They discovered the counterfeit

parts!?

They discovered the

incriminating emails?!


RMIAre They Getting Your Message?

There’s a new humongous virus…it might corrupt our SANS…reroute our SDNS…reconfigure our Virtual Farms

I mean, this is a big deal.

It can destroy everything!

OGC COO CFO CEO

This could be

good!

Phew!


RMIYour Effectiveness Scorecard…

Your role is to… Explain clearly (and

succinctly) State the impact Present alternatives Lead a discussion to a

positive outcome

Leadership expects you to show… Knowledge of the

business Knowledge of the subject

matter Thoughtfulness

Speak to people in their language Speak to others about issues relevant to them

Present facts Avoid emotions Express opinions when asked

Avoid communication barriers, including… Words that are ambiguous or have multiple

meanings Secret codes and acronyms

Anticipate and address misunderstandings Assume you are not understood until you have

positive feedback Solicit feedback to assess if the listener understands


RMI

Network Router

Crash Server

Virtual Boot

Ambiguous Language…


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Term For IT For Others

IP Internet Protocol Intellectual Property

DNA Digital Network Architecture

Genes

SaaS Software as a Service An Airline

A Test A Test Attest

RAM Memory An Animal

And Additional Ambiguity…

THE SERVER RAM FAILURE CAUSED THE SAAS TO CRASH


RMILet’s Try This Again…

OGC COO CFO CEO

Our Auditors confirmed our Network is secure.But they confirmed a new threat that might cause:• Trade secrets to be stolen• Production to be interrupted• Financials to be revealed

Oh #&)(&^!@!


RMIDid They Get Your Message?

OGC COO CFO CEO

This could be

good!Phew!

But I have a solution the Auditors will approve.• We can get it done in only 90 days

and without delaying key plans. • We can fund it with an additional $

$$ dollars, or by deferring some low priority projects.


RMI

Making the business case for investing in technology

Technology

Transcript of Making the business case for investing in technology