Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
The CIO's Ultimate Success Network
Michael R. Wood is a Business Process Improvement & IT Strategist Independent Consultant. He is creator of the business process-improvement methodology called HELIX and founder of The Natural Intelligence Group, a strategy, process improvement and technology consulting company. He is also a CPA, has served as an Adjunct Professor in Pepperdine's Management MBA program, an Associate Professor at California Lutheran University, and on the boards of numerous professional organizations. Mr. Wood is a sought after presenter of HELIX workshops and seminars in both the U.S. and Europe.
Successful executives surround themselves with talent. While this is true, I believe that extraordinary executives surround themselves with value deliverers, not just in their direct reports but in all their business relationships.
Strategic alliances are a major asset in the CIO’s arsenal for delivering success. They are those “reciprocal value proposition” relationships that leverage the CIO’s ability to deliver sustained and predictable value to the enterprise. But they are more than that; properly cultivated and managed, they form the basis of a powerful network that will serve the CIO well throughout his or her career.
Traditionally strategic alliances are found at the enterprise level. Growth, innovation, increased market share, access to new markets and branding opportunities are usually the focal points of such partnerships. So how do these areas relate to the CIO? What types of alliances can the CIO forge to help the enterprise compete more effectively, grow and continually prosper. More importantly, what kinds of strategic alliances can the CIO create and sustain to leverage his or her own ability to succeed?
The answer can be found in shifting the focus away from enterprise-to-enterprise to person-to-person relationships. For the CIO the magic of strategic alliances is found in their ability to develop a sphere of influence that brings with it the power to deliver…
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