Jim Russell
@jimcrussell.bsky.social
Manhattanville CIO, Higher Ed IT Geek; bikes, paddles, listens and reads. Posts are so very my own.
A4. Ooooh, dirty laundry! A functional team asked for the (custom) restoration of an extinct feature. Dev promised to try. The result was missing the deadline by 4 weeks and loss of trust and confidence. #CIOChat
April 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
A4. Ooooh, dirty laundry! A functional team asked for the (custom) restoration of an extinct feature. Dev promised to try. The result was missing the deadline by 4 weeks and loss of trust and confidence. #CIOChat
A3. For me in higher ed platform+guardrails+puppy dog eyes mostly works. The puppy dog eyes are also about trust, empathy and shared values. Leveraging those helps keep things mostly aligned and contained. I also have the luxury and extending grace. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q3: Some CIOs clamp down like in regulated industries. Others take a platform+guardrails approach.
How are CIOs balancing agility with enterprise architecture, data control, and long-term operability?
How are CIOs balancing agility with enterprise architecture, data control, and long-term operability?
April 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A3. For me in higher ed platform+guardrails+puppy dog eyes mostly works. The puppy dog eyes are also about trust, empathy and shared values. Leveraging those helps keep things mostly aligned and contained. I also have the luxury and extending grace. #CIOChat
A2. I'll always promote engagement as a tool. Find a tent for everyone. The big tent of informed clients. The medium tent of subject matter experts or governance. The small tent of decision makers. Set context. Educate. Discuss. Find consensus and futures together. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q2: Saying “no” used to preserve governance and order. But did it really?
Or did it just push tech decisions underground and multiply the mess?
What’s today’s smarter way to drive discipline without alienating stakeholders?
Or did it just push tech decisions underground and multiply the mess?
What’s today’s smarter way to drive discipline without alienating stakeholders?
April 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A2. I'll always promote engagement as a tool. Find a tent for everyone. The big tent of informed clients. The medium tent of subject matter experts or governance. The small tent of decision makers. Set context. Educate. Discuss. Find consensus and futures together. #CIOChat
A1 Why not both? I refer to the CIO often needing to bring the "discipline" of no to the enterprise. The CIO can't be the exclusive source of no and shouldn't say no every time. Teaching, modeling, influencing controls and limiters are often things we must do. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q1: CIOs no longer control all the gates: Cloud, SaaS, app stores, consultants, low-code tools have corrupted, err, competed for our stakeholders.
Is the CIO’s role now to influence decentralized IT decisions? Or should they fight to re-centralize more to fight sprawl?
Is the CIO’s role now to influence decentralized IT decisions? Or should they fight to re-centralize more to fight sprawl?
April 17, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A1 Why not both? I refer to the CIO often needing to bring the "discipline" of no to the enterprise. The CIO can't be the exclusive source of no and shouldn't say no every time. Teaching, modeling, influencing controls and limiters are often things we must do. #CIOChat
A4 Participatory solutioning. Re-org fatigue is real for many. When all have an authentic voice and role in the change and the ability to see their contribution in the result, the buy-in sticks. Otherwise folks just wait (or pray) for the next shuffling of the deck. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q4: Structure is only one piece. What leadership, incentives, or culture shifts have made your IT reorgs stick? And what made past ones unravel?
April 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
A4 Participatory solutioning. Re-org fatigue is real for many. When all have an authentic voice and role in the change and the ability to see their contribution in the result, the buy-in sticks. Otherwise folks just wait (or pray) for the next shuffling of the deck. #CIOChat
A2. For me right now not so much about decentralized as diffused. AI is changing functions and blurring the "swim lanes" for technical staff who increasingly work in more areas. So certainly not fragmenting but adjusting to a new knowledge/skill ecosystem. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q2: Decentralization seems back more than ever. Some CIOs are even embedding IT under regional leaders or other CXOs. Where are federated models helping… and where are they just fragmenting strategy?
April 10, 2025 at 6:23 PM
A2. For me right now not so much about decentralized as diffused. AI is changing functions and blurring the "swim lanes" for technical staff who increasingly work in more areas. So certainly not fragmenting but adjusting to a new knowledge/skill ecosystem. #CIOChat
A1.1 Not so much about re-org as reconnect and refocus. For smaller orgs there is a strong need to reconnect with rapidly changing functional or business requirements as our solutions and services need to be nimbly aligned. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q1: It’s reorg time for many. From platform teams to biztech hybrids, how are CIOs redesigning IT today to better serve product-centric, AI-enabled, and always-changing businesses?
April 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A1.1 Not so much about re-org as reconnect and refocus. For smaller orgs there is a strong need to reconnect with rapidly changing functional or business requirements as our solutions and services need to be nimbly aligned. #CIOChat
A4. Most organizations are not monolithic. All in the org benefit from training and awareness but the work starts where the foundation is prepped or where the need is urgent. Some members of the #CSuite are ready now but the majority have homework or are "OK" for now. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q4: Agentic AI promises a real redefinition of digital work. How are CIOs preparing the broader org's thinking and labor strategies to harness AI agents at scale. Is your org even ready for this convo? Will you engage with the CHRO/#CSuite about agents?
March 27, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A3. For now I am looking for #AgenticAI to align with goals (strategic or tactical) but generally support or relieve the work of existing staff. If I can make the employee experience better (hopefully #CX as well) I can retain, train and attract staff across the org. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q3: Where do CIOs see agent-based automation fitting into their broader AI transformation efforts? Will it augment traditional RPA or serve as a leapfrog path to new strategic automation efforts? i.e. What will you do with agents this year?
March 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
A3. For now I am looking for #AgenticAI to align with goals (strategic or tactical) but generally support or relieve the work of existing staff. If I can make the employee experience better (hopefully #CX as well) I can retain, train and attract staff across the org. #CIOChat
A2. Not radically different than other innovation. Focus is on managing the scope. Start smaller than the grand vision. Right now the review and QA are all manual. The architecture is generally baked into the ecosystems of @microsoft365.microsoft.com or Salesforce and trusting that. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q2: Early agent deployments often struggle with reliability and oversight. What governance, testing, or architecture patterns are CIOs exploring to ensure agentic AI delivers trusted results?
March 27, 2025 at 6:29 PM
A2. Not radically different than other innovation. Focus is on managing the scope. Start smaller than the grand vision. Right now the review and QA are all manual. The architecture is generally baked into the ecosystems of @microsoft365.microsoft.com or Salesforce and trusting that. #CIOChat
A1 As with other initiatives, where there are cleaner data and maturity of data governance Agentic AI has an easier on-ramp. So helpdesk triage and initial response, mature and simple workflows without ad hoc changes come to mind. Hoping for nudges eventually. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q1: Agentic AI is emerging strategically as a new form of digital labor. How are CIOs evaluating the opportunity? What problems or workflows do you think AI agents will be best suited to tackle first?
March 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
A1 As with other initiatives, where there are cleaner data and maturity of data governance Agentic AI has an easier on-ramp. So helpdesk triage and initial response, mature and simple workflows without ad hoc changes come to mind. Hoping for nudges eventually. #CIOChat
A4 Education is a great way. Education employees with tools (quiet time, do-not-disturb, value of camera off meetings, etc.) and managers of how to reduce stress inducing messages (late night, vague, surprise deadlines, etc.) and teach the organization not to induce burnout. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q4: Research shows that hybrid work models can blur work-life boundaries, potentially increasing stress and burnout. How should CIOs address this challenge to maintain employee well-being if hybrid becomes the ultimate outcome?
March 20, 2025 at 6:48 PM
A4 Education is a great way. Education employees with tools (quiet time, do-not-disturb, value of camera off meetings, etc.) and managers of how to reduce stress inducing messages (late night, vague, surprise deadlines, etc.) and teach the organization not to induce burnout. #CIOChat
A3 Intervene early and often. CIO's should work to influence that RTO mandate before it is finalized and bake in awareness or metrics of how to measure effectiveness including factors other than proximity or revenue. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q3: Numerous studies reveal that remote work leads to lower job turnover due to increased job satisfaction. In light of this, how should CIOs address broad RTO mandates with a more balanced approach? (i.e. What are you doing?)
March 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
A3 Intervene early and often. CIO's should work to influence that RTO mandate before it is finalized and bake in awareness or metrics of how to measure effectiveness including factors other than proximity or revenue. #CIOChat
A2 Few things are one-size-fits-all. As organizations or industries might have a culture or leadership that grooves to proximity, not all employees or departments will be perfectly aligned. I encourage making space for differences and listen to how folks work best together and support that. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q2: Recent data says that 96% of execs acknowledge a proximity bias, favoring in-office efforts . How can CIOs manage or address this bias to ensure fair recognition and advancement for remote workers?
March 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
A2 Few things are one-size-fits-all. As organizations or industries might have a culture or leadership that grooves to proximity, not all employees or departments will be perfectly aligned. I encourage making space for differences and listen to how folks work best together and support that. #CIOChat
A1 While ROI associated with increased revenue is an essential metric there are others. Employee experience, operational costs from office leases and others should provide a balanced approach to forecast or determine the value of RTO. #CIOChat
#CIOChat Q1: 72% of companies observe increased revenue after implementing RTO policies. How are CIOs balancing these apparent financial benefits against potential impacts on employee satisfaction and retention?
March 20, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A1 While ROI associated with increased revenue is an essential metric there are others. Employee experience, operational costs from office leases and others should provide a balanced approach to forecast or determine the value of RTO. #CIOChat
A4 Articulate and show/prove the ROI where possible. IT should be mentioned in the other VP's board reports to demonstrate the matrixed partnerships. Lastly, as others have noted, prudent competitor research supports funding for new directions. #CIOChat
March 6, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A4 Articulate and show/prove the ROI where possible. IT should be mentioned in the other VP's board reports to demonstrate the matrixed partnerships. Lastly, as others have noted, prudent competitor research supports funding for new directions. #CIOChat
A3 Understanding the operations side and the 10,000 foot level of perspective are essential. Understanding the "how" of tech is great but understanding the "why" the org needs innovative technology matters more. #CIOChat
March 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A3 Understanding the operations side and the 10,000 foot level of perspective are essential. Understanding the "how" of tech is great but understanding the "why" the org needs innovative technology matters more. #CIOChat
A2. Early and often. I first presented GenAI to our board in Jan of 23 and have been including elements since then. Fear is seldom a strong motivational tool for me but threats and opportunities work. Getting an outsider voice in a meeting to stimulate discussion helps.#CIOChat
March 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
A2. Early and often. I first presented GenAI to our board in Jan of 23 and have been including elements since then. Fear is seldom a strong motivational tool for me but threats and opportunities work. Getting an outsider voice in a meeting to stimulate discussion helps.#CIOChat
A1. The best tool remains concise & coherent board reports written for the lay person. Supplementing with deep dives and cyber updates in meetings as well as with board members on academic program advisory groups and overlapping groups such as alumni associations. #CIOChat
March 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
A1. The best tool remains concise & coherent board reports written for the lay person. Supplementing with deep dives and cyber updates in meetings as well as with board members on academic program advisory groups and overlapping groups such as alumni associations. #CIOChat
Reposted by Jim Russell
Women: You are invited to participate in a study of how identity characteristics influence women’s experiences of bias at work. Fill out the brief survey here: amy-diehl.com/study
(And please repost and share this link).
(And please repost and share this link).
Identity Characteristic Study Identity Characteristic Study
amy-diehl.com
January 30, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Women: You are invited to participate in a study of how identity characteristics influence women’s experiences of bias at work. Fill out the brief survey here: amy-diehl.com/study
(And please repost and share this link).
(And please repost and share this link).
Reposted by Jim Russell
In light of Trump II’s predictably cruel and bonkers beginning, many people are asking: “What can I do now?” Here are 10 recommendations. robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-c...
What you can do
Ten ways to resist Trump II
robertreich.substack.com
January 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
In light of Trump II’s predictably cruel and bonkers beginning, many people are asking: “What can I do now?” Here are 10 recommendations. robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-c...
@ciochat.bsky.social captures where I and several other CIO’s are building, measuring and planning #GenAI www.vktr.com/ai-upskillin...
How CIOs Can Measure GenAI Success
What makes an AI project successful? Learn from CIOs at the forefront of technology and discover the metrics that matter.
www.vktr.com
December 11, 2024 at 3:09 AM
@ciochat.bsky.social captures where I and several other CIO’s are building, measuring and planning #GenAI www.vktr.com/ai-upskillin...
What is the minimum cost for enterprise technology in higher education? Assuming a small college of 1,000 undergrads with and without residence hall. You need an SIS, Finance system, lHRIS and LMS. You need a cloud email and collaboration suite, a network and tech in your classrooms. Plus staff.
December 6, 2024 at 8:11 PM
What is the minimum cost for enterprise technology in higher education? Assuming a small college of 1,000 undergrads with and without residence hall. You need an SIS, Finance system, lHRIS and LMS. You need a cloud email and collaboration suite, a network and tech in your classrooms. Plus staff.