Top 10 Book Reads For Successful CIOs

Looking to discover a few good books this fall? CIOs, search no longer. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of our favorite IT books to help CIOs grow and succeed. From successful CIOs to award winning psychiatrists, these authors have created books designed to enhance your leadership qualities, help you communicate the value of IT, and give you practical skills to improve your IT department. Let these recent titles be part of your success story.

Most of the following books are also available in an e-book format, so if you have a Kindle, iPad, Nook, or other portable reading device you can find these books with an online retailer.

“CIO Best Practices: Enabling Strategic Value with Information Technology” by Joe Stenzel, Gary Cokins, Karl D. Schubert and Michael H. Hugos. This best practice guide details indispensable leadership strategies and responsibilities for enterprises of all sizes and industries. A great resource for CIOs, as well as those who simply want to understand the importance of IT for their enterprise.

“Adventures of an IT Leader”by Robert D. Austin, Richard L. Nolan and Shannon O’Donnell. A simple and readable premise that details the challenges and rewards of bridging the gap between IT and the rest of the enterprise. You’ll follow fictional character Jim Burton, a new and inexperienced CIO, as he integrates business leadership skills with successful IT management in order to overcome IT obstacles.

“Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson In True Leadership”by Steve Farber. An inspiring and compelling book about sharing knowledge to make others greater than yourself. Gives a new spin to the phrase ‘knowledge is power’ by describing a leadership strategy that involves giving knowledge to others and leading with purpose.

“Real Business of IT: How CIOs Create and Communicate Value”by Richard Hunter and George Westerman. Communicating the value of IT can be difficult, even frustrating, for CIOs constantly battling the questions of cost. By changing the perspective from the cost of IT to the value of IT to the business, this book details how to create clear communication that describes the value of IT in measurable, understandable terms.

“World Class IT: Why Businesses Succeed When IT Triumphs”by Peter A. High. An articulate and well organized book that describes how an effective IT system can help enterprises grow and succeed. In a world of flourishing technology, High also details important relationship and communication strategies to make IT an effective component to business performance.

“Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People” by Edward M. Hallowell. Bestselling author and psychiatrist Hallowell focuses in on brain science and performance research to help you inspire your team to excellence. Five noteworthy strategies can help your team connect, assist employees in finding fulfilling and meaningful responsibilities, and enable your team to excel.

“CIO Wisdom: Best Practices from Silicon Valley” by Dean Lane, with members of the CIO Community of Practice and Change Technology Solutions Inc. With information and insight from 20 of the world’s top IT executives, this book is sure to provide insight into your planning, budgeting and strategy questions. This book can help you to maximize your business value and, as a bonus, boost your charitable contributions – the author’s profits will fund scholarship programs for underprivileged kids who plan careers in IT.

“Straight to the Top: Becoming a World-Class CIO” by Gregory S. Smith. Smith provides an enlightening view of the position and responsibilities of becoming a CIO. With intelligent research, interviews with other executives, and essential tips from his own experience as a CIO, Smith equips future CIOs with a path to the top.

“Mastering the Hype Cycle: How to Choose the Right Innovation at the Right Time”by Jackie Fenn and Mark Raskino. Two Gartner Fellows advice enterprises of all sizes about how to choose innovations at the right time and how to avoid disillusionment. Mastering the hype cycle can help you time your innovations correctly to give them the best opportunity for long term success.

“CIO Survival Guide: The Roles and Responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer” byKarl D. Schubert. New CIOs will appreciate the helpful guidelines and practical skills designated to improve competency for IT leaders. This book offers concrete advice to help new CIOs overcome communication obstacles and find success in the demanding world of IT.…