First, a fun 30-second NoSpin debunker poll about CEO PC proficiency–hit this link. All results are anonymous and will be reported next week.

1. Rate your CEO's PC proficiency:

1=Can't turn on a PC

2=Uses it sporadically and can barely handle email

3=Daily email use, only

4=Regular user of email, basic PC functions and Internet

5=Extremely handy: uses multiple software programs

2. Rate most other CEOs' (outside of the IT industry) PC proficiency:

1=Can't turn on a PC

2=Use it sporadically and can barely handle email

3=Daily email use, only

4=Regular users of email, basic PC functions and Internet

5=Extremely handy: use multiple software programs

3. Does a higher level of a CEO's PC proficiency correlate to a higher level of company performance?

Never

Not very often

Sometimes

Usually

In all cases

4. The low level of IT spending in the healthcare industry is related to the low PC proficiency on the part of many healthcare CEO's. Do you agree or disagree?

1=I agree strongly

2=I agree somewhat

3=I neither agree nor disagree

4=I disagree somewhat

5=I strongly disagree

In the last two weeks I have reported NoSpin Debunker readers’ responses to the following question:

"Why do so many IT (or IS, MIS) departments love the status quo so much-why are they so reticent to change and make a leap forward to improve efficiency, costs, etc?"

Here are a few suggestions–no panaceas–to help techies and non-techies ensure that the status quo does not become an end unto itself:

Some advice to non-IT managers regarding their IT departments:

• Tell them your company story/history.
• Let them in on the company "secrets"--explain your company strategy and encourage questions and feedback.
• Send them (and pay for) them to attend business/management courses.
• Hire a non-techie to be your next CIO/CTO.
• Require all top executives, including the CEO to regularly use his/her PC (minimally for email and Internet). You can teach new tricks to an old dog–and CEO’s should always set good examples--no matter how rich and powerful they become.
• Get rid of any old time technology hacks "hiding out the PC world"–put them gently out to pasture–with a reasonable severance package, as appropriate.
• Develop concrete reward programs for high producers at all levels of the IT department–not just some stock options for the CIO.
• Don’t whack (or fire them) for taking reasonable risks.

Advice to IT departments regarding non-IT managers:

• Play it straight with your less-than-enlightened bosses (yes, they are easy to fool sometimes).
• Enlighten them–develop IT primer courses for your bosses.
• Don’t become separated from the rest of the organization; make it a point to join in.
• Don’t always let business types defer to you in a meeting–especially when you know they can handle a semi-technology question, just fine, themselves.
• Lose the "tech attitude" and arrogance and realize that if it weren’t for your current company, many engineers would be flipping burgers instead of bits.
• Learn some basic business.

Advice to IT vendors in general (from a previous debunker:

Cut the spin-- be up-front about what your products do and don’t do today. Sell products that actually work and provide value.

…and to everyone, realize that there is a Venus and Mars thing to some extent between techie types and non-techie types. Better understanding and communications will help progress and transform the status quo.

Tom Ranseen NoSpinMarketing 615.383.7157

NoSpin Debunkers are free weekly online newsletters written by Tom Ranseen. If at anytime you would like to be removed from the NoSpin Debunker reader list, please Unsubscribe. Otherwise, enjoy, join the conversation, and please forward this debunker to as many friends/acquaintances as you think may be interested–or send me their email addresses. Thanks.

Tom Ranseen NoSpinMarketing 615.383.7157