Innovating in Tough Times To survive — and even thrive — in tough times, organizations need to innovate. But that doesn’t mean buying into the latest trend or investing in the “hot” technology of the moment. Practical, effective innovation is about recognizing current market conditions, the competitive landscape, the needs of customers and the strategic direction of the organization and devising new approaches to deliver value. With tightening budgets, new IT projects are liable to face resistance in the C-suite and the boardroom. Indeed, each new initiative not only incurs cost, but also adds complexity to the IT environment and increases risk. So how do CIOs do more with less, secure the benefits of IT advances and deliver rapid return on investment, without imperiling the security of the enterprise? The key is management across the silos of IT. Management must be central to the planning of any IT project. As many companies retrench in the face of an uncertain economy, this is the time to innovate with IT projects that can transform the business and position the organization for future growth. (Javascript is required to view Mediasite content)