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CIOsurge Weekly Roundup
AI Project Pitfalls, Mainframe Resurgence, CIO Leadership Insights
Zack Tembi
October 15, 2024
🛑 When CIOs Should Terminate Underperforming AI Projects
“AI projects have become an essential part of modern business strategies, but knowing when to pivot or abandon one is critical to preventing resource waste. The article highlights the importance of setting realistic expectations and KPIs from the start. If an AI initiative isn’t delivering clear business value or alignment with strategic objectives, it’s time to reassess. This resonates with many CIOs grappling with the balance between innovation and pragmatism. Successful CIOs are those who aren’t afraid to cut their losses when necessary, ensuring a focus on impactful technology initiatives that drive measurable outcomes.”
-Zack Tembi
🚀 Mainframes Return to Prominence Amid AI and Hybrid Cloud Expansion
A surge in generative AI adoption has reignited interest in mainframes, with over 75% of tech executives viewing mainframe-based applications as key to digital transformation, per an IBM report. Mainframes handle 70% of global transactions by value, and their integration with AI-driven innovation is proving vital. IBM’s Watsonx Code Assistant helps modernize COBOL applications, further supporting this trend.
🗞️ At A Glance
💡 CIO Spotlights
NTT DATA CIO Barry Shurkey’s People-First Leadership Approach
Barry Shurkey, CIO of NTT DATA, emphasizes that investing in people is central to successful IT strategy, as people drive technology and processes.
Shurkey prioritizes internal career mobility, fostering leadership growth, diversity of thought, and employee engagement through training and transparent communication.
His international experience reinforced the value of relationships and adaptability in leadership.