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Decision Making

Industry Articles

Why CIOs Avoid Explicit Tradeoffs... And Why It Hurts Them

CIOs routinely omit the one piece of information executives need most: what is being given up to fund the ask. The executive room reads that omission as incomplete prioritization, and adjusts trust accordingly. The CIOs who declare the sacrifice ... and stand behind the call ... earn a kind of credibility that thorough analysis alone cannot produce.
Scott Smeester
March 2, 2026
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What Most CIOs Get Wrong About C Suite Peer Groups

Most executive peer groups reward comfort and validation. CIOs who settle for affirmation over structured confrontation are weakening their decision quality and eroding the political capital they need when it matters most.
Scott Smeester
February 17, 2026
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CIO Mastermind vs. Gartner? Why You Don’t Have to Choose.

Already using Gartner? See how CIO Mastermind can turn research into strategic action through peer collaboration, accountability, and implementation support.
Scott Smeester
June 17, 2025
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Leadership Blogs

How To Get Buy-in For Buying In A Hard Market

Hard markets and tight budgets don’t need to delay the spending you need now. Buy-in isn’t about the budget. It’s about the right decision. And that’s something you can lead.

Joe Woodruff

March 21, 2024

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What CEOs Need CIOs To Understand About Influence And Authority

CEOs want their CIOs to be of greater influence, especially where they don’t have decision making authority.. That means the CIOs need to invest and leverage three critical assets their CEOs have been utilizing for years.

Scott Smeester

February 29, 2024

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The One Dynamic CIOs Do Not Overlook In Strategic Implementation

It's not enough to form new habits to accomplish great plans.

Scott Smeester

January 4, 2024

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