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CIO Values: Mike Jackson, VP and CIO, Rockwell Automation
Build strong relationships with business leaders and diversify your IT experience with stints in sales, finance, and logisitcs, this CIO advises.
3 Min Read
Career Track
Mike JacksonVP and CIO Rockwell Automation |
How long at current company: 4 years
Career accomplishment you're most proud of: Two specific accomplishments come to mind. The first was moving DuPont's information systems and processes in Asia Pacific from a country-based approach to a regional- and global-based approach in the late '80s and early '90s. This unleashed a lot of growth. The second is helping Rockwell Automation realize what a great, globally integrated company it could be and how that would benefit our customers.
Most important career influencer: I respect people who are sensitive to others and can connect on an individual level, and people who stand on principle and do what's right.
Decision I wish I could change: I wish I had taken more opportunities to step out of IT into either sales or general management. IT touches everything-- finance, logistics, sales, etc.--and I would have liked to have immersed myself into one or more of these to diversify my experience.
On The Job
IT budget: $150 million
Size of IT team: 600
Three top initiatives for current year:
Global Process Trans- formation--in 2004, Rockwell Automation set out to replace many different business processes and ERP systems with a single set of global processes and one enterprise-wide solution. We are into the third year of a five-year roll out plan.
A real-time manufacturing IT strategy--synchronizing plant operations with enterprise business and supply chain systems globally is a tall order, but establishing visibility and process control across our extended supply chain is a fundamental aspect of remaining competitive as a global electronics manufacturer.
Supporting the rapid growth and globalization of our business.
Vision
What's the next big thing for my industry? The convergence of manufacturing and IT is a hot topic right now and will be for some time.
Best piece of advice for future CIOs: You have to relate well to a broad group of technologists in your organization and among your vendors, while at the same time have rock-solid relationships with the key business leaders in your company. If you do that well, it's quite natural to become the bridge between the two, translating the most important business needs to those who can apply technology to meet them.
Personal
Colleges/degrees: Vanderbilt University, bachelor's degree in business administration and economics
Best book read recently: I just finished a book on IT auditing. Very interesting to see IT from another perspective.
Favorite leisure activities: I'm an avid--not good--golfer
If I weren't a CIO I would be ... an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.
About the Author
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