Random Processing

Jack Carlisle, CIO

9/13/2011

Recommendation The key decision that Jack Carlisle must make is whether to stay at IZL during sweeping management change and a “skeptical stock market” or leave for an alternate job opportunity. The following analysis clearly indicates that to stay with IZL would be a good decision for IZL as well as Carlisle’s professional and personal life. Jack Carlisle should stay with IZL at least for a few more years, because the “company’s fundamentals are sound” and he has an opportunity to take his career to new heights by helping drive the future of IZL. To make his decision Jack Carlisle should use the following criteria: sound company fundamentals, opportunity for growth within IT, alignment of personal values and company policy, and confidence in leadership. Rekindling business growth inside an organization often presents the most difficult hurdles to a maturing organization. At a high level, IZL Corporation needs to reignite its core competencies to maintain competitiveness in the financial services market which is becoming more fragmented with imitators. Although Carlisle has gone through a succession of CIO jobs, and within two years made IZL’s IT systems more robust, more professionalized and more enhanced with operating metrics, his job is not finished. There is an opportunity to fully integrate technology with business strategy to help IZL create a sustainable competitive advantage, boost its stock valuation and regain market leadership. Opportunities Jack Carlisle should stay at IZL, because there are several advantages to this decision. First, IZL needs to differentiate itself through customer service or low cost operations. Carlisle is a champion and visionary that understands IT is more than a commodity and an effective tool that can help IZL achieve these objectives. Contrary to Nick Carr’s assertion in article “IT Doesn’t Matter” that IT is a “commodity” and does not offer competitive advantage, Carlisle was able to...