The usual project- and budget-oriented approach to IT investment doesn’t work for today’s digital transformations, according to a Forrester Research report. To learn how to get digital transformation right, download this free 16-page report. Credit: Thinkstock Traditionally, CIOs won acclaim for managing lengthy IT projects. But that methodical, project-focused approach isn’t ideal for digital transformations, where the goal is to deliver a great customer experience, according to a Forrester Research report. Digital strategies fail when CIOs are “stuck in project-based planning, unable to respond to [rapidly] changing customer realities,” the report says. In other words, “a slow-paced annual cycle with fixed up-front commitment to requirements and approaches” won’t work. Another CIO mistake: focusing on the IT budget and cost controls rather than “delivering customer-led outcomes,” the Forrester report says. For a customer-obsessed digital strategy, Forrester says CIOs will need to leave old habits behind and learn (and use) new techniques such as “design thinking,” which emphasizes customer empathy and rapidly prototyping solutions to customer problems. CIO.com Insider members can download this 16-page Forrester Research report, written by analyst Bobby Cameron. Traditionally, CIOs won acclaim for managing lengthy IT projects. But that methodical, project-focused approach isn’t ideal for digital transformations, where the goal is to deliver a great customer experience, according to a Forrester Research report. Digital strategies fail when CIOs are “stuck in project-based planning, unable to respond to [rapidly] changing customer realities,” the report says. In other words, “a slow-paced annual cycle with fixed up-front commitment to requirements and approaches” won’t work. Another CIO mistake: focusing on the IT budget and cost controls rather than “delivering customer-led outcomes,” the Forrester report says. For a customer-obsessed digital strategy, Forrester says CIOs will need to leave old habits behind and learn (and use) new techniques such as “design thinking,” which emphasizes customer empathy and rapidly prototyping solutions to customer problems. CIO.com Insider members can download this 16-page Forrester Research report, written by analyst Bobby Cameron. download The Business Technology Strategy Starts with Customer Obsession Forrester Research Related content feature State of IT jobs: Mixed signals, changes ahead Layoffs and salary plateaus in the wake of exuberant pandemic-era IT hiring has the IT talent market in flux. And while employers pay premiums for hard-to-find AI skills, IT pros seek the same for filling in-office openings. By Sarah K. White May 17, 2024 10 mins Salaries Hiring IT Jobs feature Project manager salary: 5 key tips to earn more Project managers need to know what their worth is — and make others know it, as well. Here’s a look at project manager compensation, skills that increase a project manager’s pay scale, and how to negotiate a more competitive project By Josh Fruhlinger May 17, 2024 14 mins Salaries Project Management Careers feature Cyber resilience: A business imperative CIOs must get right With ransomware at an all-time high, companies need to understand that being cyber resilient means going beyond compliance to considering all aspects of a business, from operational continuity to software supply chain security. By Andrada Fiscutean May 16, 2024 9 mins Regulation Incident Response Data and Information Security feature Shine a Spotlight on Your Team’s IT Excellence with CIO Awards Canada By Allice Shandler May 16, 2024 4 mins Events IT Leadership PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe