I have been actively interviewing. While it has been an interesting time to look for a senior level role I have been cautious about the organizations I have been interviewing with. I have come to realize that some organizations still do not see IT has a strategic tool but purely at a utility with no real long-term value. It is these organizations that I try to stay away from and recently have passed on further interviewing.
I use the initial interview to really get a sense of the organization. And if there are any red flags politely decline further interviews. Here are some of the questions I have asked during the interview:
- Is technology a component of the business plan?
- How do executives obtain information?
- What goals and values define the current technology organization?
- Are technology best practices and standards followed?
- How does the enterprise select and acquire technology?
- How effectively does the current portfolio of application support members?
- How does the enterprise implement technology?
- How does the enterprise manage and maintain technology assets?
- How does the enterprise manage security, privacy, integrity, and compliance?
- How does the enterprise measure performance?
- Is there a willingness of staff to embrace openness and change?
- Is there a willingness of senior executives to serve as stewards of IT and ensure IT supports the mission?
- Is there a willingness to keep things that work and get rid of those that don’t ‐ whether it is a legacy software application, broken business process or failing project ‐ reallocating resources to better investments?
- Is there sufficient resources to support initiatives with skilled personnel, funding, and time?
- Is there active and visible senior management support?
- Is there a well‐defined and disciplined processes for information capture, stewardship, and quality and accuracy assurance of information?
I have been amazed about some of the responses I have received. But it is better to find out now then 6 months into your tenure where you might be struggling.