Improving IT Performance is an authoritative, insider"s perspective on making the most of your technology team by identifying and eliminating any weaknesses and making systems run better, faster, and smoother. Featuring CTOs and CIOs representing some of the top companies in the nation, this book provides best practices for balancing day-to-day operations with major system overhauls, as well as reorganizing and realigning relationships with other business units to maximize performance as seamlessly as possible. In today"s turbulent economy, these authors outline how to make a tangible impact on cost-cutting efforts by locating technology"s low-hanging fruit, leveraging IT innovation, and budgeting for upgrades in advance. This book provides valuable insight for those looking to align IT as a partner to the business by gathering internal feedback and communicating and collaborating with senior management and employees alike. Highlighting the importance of providing the company with the most effective solutions, these authors also discuss running pilot programs, upgrading systems and tools, and overcoming technology challenges as or before they arise. The different niches presented and the breadth of perspectives represented enable readers to get inside some of the leading technology minds of today, as these insiders offer up their thoughts around the keys to advancing IT to the next level of execution. Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world s most respected companies nationwide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession or topic is headed and the most important issues for the future. Through an exhaustive selection process, each author was hand-picked by the Inside the Minds editorial board to author a chapter for this book. Chapters Include: 1. Randall B. Sparkman, Chief Information and Technology Officer, MedAssets Inc. - "IT Connections in a Dynamic Business Environment" 2. Thomas Skill, Associate Provost and Chief Information Officer, University of Dayton - "Leading and Aligning IT Innovations in Higher Education" 3. Jeff Smedley, Chief Information Officer, J&J Maintenance Inc. - "Strategies for Building Success by Establishing Trust in IT" 4. Tracy Schroeder, Vice President, Information Technology, University of San Francisco - "Measuring and Managing for IT Service Quality" 5. John Smithers, Vice President, Technology and Chief Information Officer, Johnson & Wales University - "Balancing Maintenance with Innovation and Security" 6. Bart Waress, Vice President and Director, Information Technology, Home Buyers Warranty - "Moving the Business Forward with IT Initiatives" 7. Dave Schroeder, Former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, PRG-Schultz International Inc. - "Building a Reputation for Reliability and Becoming a Trusted Business Partner" 8. Jacek Olszewski, Chief Information Officer, Research Foundation of the City University of New York - "Running a Successful IT Operation in the Not-for-Profit Sector" 9. Christopher R. Barber, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, WesCorp - "Using a Consultative IT Organization to Enhance Execution" 10. Francisco DeArmas, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Whitney National Bank -"Examining Processes and Evolving Procedures to Improve Performance" 11. Christopher C. Barron, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, CPS Energy - "Achieving IT Success in Day-to-Day and Planning Operations"