Best Of InformationWeek 2012: 12 Must-Reads

At this time of year, some sites run lists of their most popular stories from the past 12 months. We decided to go a different route. Let us remember, Britney Spears was most popular at one time. So were plaid pants, mullets and wine-in-a-box. Most popular isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

Also, you can only read so many Apple stories in one day.

So here are 12 of the most intriguing stories and columns from InformationWeek in 2012. From an in-depth look at the IT transformation at General Motors to a sobering look at a financial industry company's IT meltdown, it was quite a year. Dig in. And please share your comments below on which articles you liked -- or did not.

1. General Motors Will Slash Outsourcing In IT Overhaul

GM's new CIO Randy Mott plans to bring nearly all IT work in-house as one piece of a sweeping IT overhaul. It's a high-risk strategy that's similar to what Mott drove at Hewlett-Packard.

2. Exclusive: Anatomy Of A Brokerage IT Meltdown

Regulators last year issued the SEC's first-ever privacy fine against broker-dealer GunnAllen for failing to protect customer data. But former IT staffers say regulators didn't seem to know half of this cautionary tale of outsourcing and oversight gone wrong.

3.Hana And Exalytics: SAP's Hype Versus Oracle's FUD

Getting to the facts in the war of words surrounding SAP's Hana and Oracle's Exalytics platforms.

4. Why Sears Is Going All-In On Hadoop

Sears pushes the cutting edge with some big data techniques, while trying to sell its big data services. Can emerging tech drive change in old-school companies?

5. Union Pacific Delivers Internet Of Things Reality Check

U.S.'s largest railroad uses sensors and analytics to prevent derailments, but it also shows where the next wave of innovation is needed.

6. FBI's Sentinel Project: 5 Lessons Learned

Agency used agile development and private sector know-how to finish its long-delayed digital case management system.

7. Apple After Jobs: Cook's Real Challenge

A year after the death of its charismatic leader, Apple is thriving. But CEO Tim Cook's success may depend on content services -- not finding another iPad.

8. Skills Shortage? Quit Whining

If "people are our most important resource," why do most employers expect this precious asset to show up gift wrapped?

9. Windows 8 Fizzling, Time For Windows Classic?

If Windows 8 sales don't improve soon, will Microsoft have to pull a Coke and cut its losses on its radically reengineered OS?

10. N.Y. Times Data Center Indictment Misses Big Picture

A New York Times examination of increasing data center use and its environmental impact focuses on aging enterprise data centers. A more important issue: How much environmental benefit can we reap from today's modern cloud data centers?

11. San Francisco Giants' Bill Schlough: InformationWeek IT Chief Of The Year

The Giants' CIO and his team are innovating in areas such as analytics-based scouting and in-stadium wireless, keeping the World Series champions ahead of the game.

12. CIOs As Rainmakers: The New Meme, Deconstructed

When your CEO or CFO asks you to be a rainmaker, it's a call for help. Wrap it all in context and respond in a holistic way.