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By Jon Bernstein, 12 March 2002 08:45

NEWS IT bosses who want to make it to the top table need to "get off their backsides and meet people". That's the view of David Rippon, chairman of IT directors' association, Elite. Rippon also believes some IT chiefs are better off simply managing an effective IT department. Both options are fine, he says in a silicon.com TV interview published this week (http://www.silicon.com/a51924 ). In a wide-ranging discussion, Rippon identifies the key functions of today's IT leaders. "An IT director is trying to fulfil two roles. The first is the sensible management of the IT capabilities within an organisation to actually allow it to perform its business function as efficiently as possible. The second role is about using technology to add value to the business's product offering." Rippon says a business that uses technology as part of its service or product offering is more likely to promote IT leaders to board level positions but individuals still have to make it happen. "IT directors need to think more about their business," he continues. "To be blunt they need to get off their backsides and get out and meet people. They need to find out how IT is being used in various different companies and take the best of what they find and apply it to their companies to add value to the business overall rather than to use IT just to cost cost. "IT directors, of all the professions, are the ones that seem least keen, least enamoured with networking." "[They need to develop] closer relationships with the people who run and manage the business so that they turn to you naturally for advice. And when they turn to you for advice, you can express that advice in a non-technical way that draws on experiences inside and outside your organisation." To watch the full interview, click here: http://www.silicon.com/a51924 The IT director's reading list:
Richard Sykes' Top IT Director Tips
http://www.silicon.com/a51042
The Director's Cut: Top 10 IT priorities for 2002
http://www.silicon.com/a50632
Quote. Unquote. The CIO's To Do List
http://www.silicon.com/a50963
5 Essential views on project management
http://www.silicon.com/a46849 To buy related reports or event tickets, click:
Event: Interactive Games Summit 2002
http://www.silicon.com/goto-ecc-na1
Report: P2P Networking Overview Report
http://www.silicon.com/goto-ecc-na6
Report: Databases: An Evaluation and Comparison
http://www.silicon.com/goto-ecc-na2