8 business concepts IT leaders should master

CIOs know they must be business leaders, but the business knowledge they must bring to the proverbial table is something of a moving target.

There are, of course, the management fundamentals and the longstanding executive skills that remain constant must-haves. But there are, too, a list of topics that bubble up and dominate based on current trends and present-day realities.

Speaking to that latter point, CIO.com polled analysts, consultants, and CIOs about the must-have business concepts of today. Here’s what made their list.

Key business drivers

Every organization has a unique list of the internal and external activities, factors, and resources that impact its operational and financial performance; they and how they interact come together under the broad umbrella of key business drivers.

As CIOs have moved from technologists to executives over the past decade or so, they have had to better understand how their organizations operate and make money. But the upheaval of the past few years has brought the need to fully grasp what drives the business and how they do so to the forefront.

“By deeply understanding this, the technology team can partner with the business to design and implement technology solutions that not only continuously improve on the products and services customers rely on, but also create greater value for the customers,” says Mark Mintz, corporate senior vice president and CIO of Charles River Laboratories. “This is more important than ever now because technology’s role in creating value is bigger than it ever has been.”