2Sustain

The $825 billion economic stimulus plan proposed by House Democrats earlier this month includes some $37 billion for spending specifically in the area of information technology.  In addition to creating jobs, this government investment is sure to foster more IT innovation and efficiencies –and not a moment too soon. Today, IT plays an increasingly complex role in virtually every business, and there’s no doubt that we’re all turning to IT more and more frequently for solutions regarding everything from security to sustainability.

For insight into the challenges facing CIOs these days, take a look at “The CIO Squeeze,” an interview with Tom Hogan, senior vice president of software at Hewlett-Packard, that was recently posted at Forbes.com.

“I usually start off discussions with CIOs by telling them, ‘I think your job is getting really hard,’” Hogan says. To me, that’s putting it mildly, as he then goes on to discuss the numerous complicated challenges facing today’s CIOs. His list includes: the sheer scale of modern capacity and data centers, the ubiquity of the Internet, mobility, the consumerization of technology, security, compliance, risk management, supply chain management, shrinking budgets…

And, of course, at the same time, CIOs are also facing pressure to respond to environmental concerns. Can we improve the energy efficiency of the company’s data center? What can IT do to help us reduce our carbon footprint? Can we isolate waste in the supply chain? etc.

For additional perspective on the interplay between IT and CSR, I also recommend Eric Riddleberger’s post “Corporate Social Responsibility – An Emerging CIO Mandate,” which was published on Friday at Environmental Leader.

Riddleberger, a strategy and change practice leader and global business strategy leader at IBM, describes how CIOs now sit squarely at the center of any company’s CSR efforts. After all, IT can be used to leverage data for greater visibility, transparency, compliance, and insight. It can also drive improvements that lead to growth and differentiation in the marketplace. And, IT can facilitate engagement and collaboration among various stakeholders.

Riddleberger sums it up nicely. “CSR is a growth opportunity, and CIOs can play a critical role in aligning IT with this core business strategy by providing the platforms and integration necessary to enable it,” he concludes.