Will the next budget go around cloud your executive career aspirations? Think ahead to this fall, when you are at the round table patiently waiting your turn to present your strategy, plan and budget, including your CapEx request. Surely, you have worked hard on the budget this year. Zero-based it? Completed risk assessments? Tied the security processes to measurable business benefits?
First up at the left of your CEO is the golden boy, the VP of Sales. He brings in the money and wears cuff links on casual day. “We are moving to Salesforce.com for our CRM,” he begins. “Instead of investing $2 million of CapEx funds in new software, we will simply pay a usage fee. We no longer need 24/7 IT support and our sales intelligence, collaboration and reporting will improve dramatically,” he finishes as he twists a gold cuff link.