Questions From The Power of Role

1. Questions From The Power of Role For class discussion

2. One of the most important functions of senior officers in the corporation is finding solutions to the difficult challenges that face the leadership team of the company. According to Chapter One, what is a powerful key to finding these solutions? How does this work?

3. We say that the CFO has responsibility for the tactical profit and that the CIO has more responsibility for the strategic profit. What are some potential specific examples of strategic profit? (as it would pertain to your company)

4. Give an example of an initiative that might make sense to the COO, but might threaten to impede the V.P. of Sales’ ability to make quota. • Give an example of an initiative that might make sense to the CIO, but might threaten to impede the V.P. of Sales’ ability to make quota. • Give an example of an initiative that might make sense to the CMO, but might threaten to impede the V.P. of Sales’ ability to make quota. • Give an example of an initiative that might make sense to the CFO, but might threaten to impede the V.P. of Sales’ ability to make quota. • How do these lessons apply in your company’s senior leadership cirlces and why should I.T. managers understand this?

5. Why will getting another CXO in your company to share ownership of a CIO’s proposed I.T. initiative result in improving the political posture of the CIO?

6. In the analogy of the bricks and the bills (or checks) presented early in this chapter, what do the different denominations of bills (or checks) represent? What does the glue solvent represent? What does the time to pry up the bricks represent? • What has this got to do with the CIO’s job in your company?

7. What are at least seven advantages that accrue to the CIO by getting other CXOs to share (or take) ownership of major new IT initiatives?

8. What are the advantages that accrue to the COO, CMO or V.P. of Sales when they take ownership of IT initiatives?

9. What are the best ways for other CXOs to help the CIO?

10. What are the five leadership jobs of an executive?

11. The Two Most Important Questions from the Book • How do you “play politics” with the other CXOs in your corporation? • What will YOU do differently (relative to increasing your political capital) beginning Monday morning back in your office?