Article Library

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
READ MORE

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
READ MORE

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
READ MORE

Leadership Blogs

The One Investment CxOs Don't Cut During Inflation

Threats of inflation and recession have companies preparing for budget restrictions. The one thing you can’t cut, that is instinctive to cut, are the outsiders who are key for your insiders. How do you know who they are?

Scott Smeester

August 4, 2022

Read More

When Good Ideas Go Bad :: How CIO's Avoid Idea-Waste

Leaders are thinkers. But good ideas go to waste. For your idea to thrive, you need to avoid four pitfalls and traverse four avenues of idea fruition.

Joe Woodruff

April 26, 2022

Read More

Why Go Back To The Office: A Decision Grid For The CIO

The decision regarding whether to return to the office won’t be answered by a number of considerations. The insightful CIO needs to take only two actions to make a wise choice.

Scott Smeester

February 15, 2022

Read More