By Larry Lange

***MEMO***

TO: The Enterprise CIO
FROM: The CEO and Board of Directors
SUBJECT: Changes to the CIO Role
DATE: Right Now
The role and responsibilities of our company's chief information officer are
changing. While we appreciate your leadership skills in managing the IT
division to this point — and duly note your sharpened focus in aligning IT to
the objectives of the business — the company now needs you to become an
integral part of the executive team.
As of today, please begin to address the following tasks:

• Participate as a member of the executive committee and contribute to
  boardroom discussions. Be prepared to discuss general ledgers, income
  statements, P&L sheets and market valuations as they pertain to the
  business.
• Find and implement new business-centric processes, platforms and
  systems — but only after approval of, and participation with, executive
  management. Clearly communicate the benefits of said new components
  to the CEO and the board as they pertain to business outcomes.
• Create new concepts for revenue streams for the business. Then
  implement said concepts, while keeping costs to a minimum.
• Drive innovation inside the enterprise — and to our customers and
  partners — while keeping costs to a minimum.
• Become proficient about the business and the business goals and
  objectives. Then motivate and train the IT division to become expert on
  these subjects, too.

We hope to receive your progress update within 90 days, and we wish you
good luck.