The International CTO Programme Book
The International Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Programme, is a comprehensive CTO handbook and C-suite bible, engineered to support aspiring and seasoned technology executives, including CIOs and CDOs, to generate success for their organisations and enable best-practice in the industry.
This essential resource serves as a strategic roadmap, providing invaluable lessons and practical guidance on defining organisational strategy, driving innovation, and accelerating both organisational and personal performance.
Central to this programme is the emphasis on cultivating innovation as a core objective, equipping CTOs with cutting-edge methodologies and design thinking practices to build, run, and adapt tech platforms and teams effectively.
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From mastering the art of measuring performance and innovation with tangible ROI metrics to attracting and motivating world-class talent, readers will gain indispensable insights into future-proofing their organisations and staying ahead of emerging trends and technologies.
Book 1 - Creating the Technology Strategy
In this book, we delve into the art of crafting and executing a robust technology, innovation, or digital strategy that becomes a cornerstone within the broader business objectives. We discuss the essential principles and practical insights needed to seamlessly integrate technology initiatives into the core fabric of organisational success. Introduction to Strategic Vision and Planning • Understanding the foundational concepts of strategic planning. • Defining the role of technology strategy within broader business objectives. ​ Understanding the Business Landscape • Analysing industry trends, regulatory landscapes, and global influences. • Identifying emerging technologies and customer-centric trends. ​ Defining Technological Objectives • Crafting a strategic technological vision aligned with business goals. • Setting SMART goals and engaging stakeholders for alignment. ​ Creating a Technology Roadmap • Prioritising initiatives, resource allocation, and iterative development. • Communicating effectively and monitoring key performance indicators. ​ Crafting The Technology Strategy • Aligning technology and digital strategies. • Measuring success and presenting strategies effectively.
Book 2 - Technology Leadership
This book offers a thorough exploration of technology leadership and challenges confronting CTOs today. It covers navigating leadership styles, building strategic relationships, fostering innovation, driving digital transformation, embracing ethics, continuous learning, managing remote/hybrid teams, diversity, inclusion, and navigating mergers and acquisitions. Leadership & The CTO • Defining technology leadership roles and styles. • Nurturing high-performance teams and fostering innovation. ​ Digital Transformation and Re-Engineering • Embracing digital transformation and agile methodologies. • Overcoming integration challenges and ensuring connectivity. ​ Design Thinking & User-Centric Design • Implementing design thinking principles and user-centric approaches. ​ Product Ownership and Product Management • Defining product vision and strategy. • Collaborating between product management and development teams. ​ Project Management: Getting Things Done • Introduction to project management methodologies and roles. • Implementing change control and monitoring project progress. ​ Data-Driven Decision-Making • Leveraging analytics for informed decision-making. • Establishing data-driven decision-making infrastructures The Many Faces of the CTO • Exploring various CTO roles and responsibilities. • Recruitment strategies and motivation for CTOs. ​ CTO Guide To Finance and Budgeting •Understanding financial concepts and ROI in technological investments. •Navigating financial agreements and bank covenants.
Book 3 - Driving Innovation
Innovation in technology is the catalyst for industry progress, transforming ideas into user-centric solutions. CTOs play a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of experimentation and learning, driving companies to stay ahead by embracing innovation throughout the product lifecycle. This book sets the stage for a detailed exploration of strategies and best practices for accelerating innovation through the hands of the CTO. Innovation in Practice • Defining innovation methodologies and measuring innovation success. • Nurturing an innovation culture and managing innovation in legacy systems. The Innovation Mindset • Cultivating a mindset conducive to creativity and risk-taking. Creating an Innovation Lab • Designing and implementing innovation labs to foster creativity. ​ Three Horizon Innovation • Implementing the McKinsey 3 Horizon Model for innovation. ​ The Power of Imagination • Harnessing imagination as a catalyst for innovation and exploring futurism. Global Perspectives on Innovation • Exploring global innovation trends and city innovation hubs. Emerging Technologies & Trends • The latest technologies and skills appearing worldwide and how they are being used
About The Author
David Ivell has held senior IT and Digital positions as Chief Technology Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Product and Technology Officer and Consulting Principal across a wide spectrum of organisations. These have included IBM, Credit Suisse, The British Film Institute, The Prince’s Trust, Royal Botanic Garden’s Kew and The Empowering Group. His experience spans multinational corporations, development labs, startups, and accelerators, covering diverse industry sectors such as Technology, Banking, Insurance, Energy, Media, Edtech, Environment, Not-for-Profit, Government, and Engineering.
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David has earned professional recognition, being named as one of the world's top 100 CIOs and consistently features in the UK's CIO top 100. He has been honoured as CDO of the Year, received the Technology and Data for Good Award, coached the Digital Team of the Year, and secured the Social Impact Digital Product of the Year. Additionally, he has served as a regular judge for prestigious events like the AI & Machine Learning Awards, Tech Leaders Awards, Digital Leaders Awards, and Women in IT Awards.
As a regular conference speaker David has presented at leading industry events including the opening address for London Tech Week. David also founded the technology for good group, Energise Resources, in 2018, now with over 300 leading technology professionals around the world donating their time to social and environmental challenges.
Currently a CPTO and Non Exec Director within the EdTech sector and Programme Director for The International CTO Programme at The Marlow Business School.
