Adapt to succeed
By
Nick Wakeman
Standing pat isn't a choice in the government market because success and survival require change.
Fiscal 2011 is behind us and the calendar year is about to come to a close as well.
So it is only fitting that in this issue we take a look back at the fiscal year just ended and for many in the industry there is a collective sigh of relief. It was a tough year but the consensus is that it could have been worse.
We’re also hearing that the worst is yet to come, or at least people are preparing for that.
It is also fitting that our cover story celebrates the best that the contracting industry has to offer with our coverage of the annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards. The awards are produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Services Council and Washington Technology.
Our coverage of the contractors and executives of the year is a testament to the dedication and hard work that the most successful contactors bring to market every day. The dinner event where the winners were announced also turned into a showcase for the industry’s generosity when $60,000 was raised spontaneously for Homes for Our Troops.
The group was the beneficiary of a raffle at the dinner, but then companies and individuals began stepping up and making donations, which tripled the amount expected to be raised.
It was exciting to witness.
In this issue we also explore a trend we began noticing over a year ago and that’s the evolving role of corporate chief information officers. As our story explains, these executives aren’t just overseeing desktops and networks anymore. They are working closely with chief financial officers to help their companies become more efficient and get the return on investment on their IT.
CIOs also are increasingly working with the operations side of their companies to help customers get the most out of their IT.
To me, the evolution of the CIO is another sign of both the importance of IT in operating an efficient business and of the constant adaptability of government contractors.
Whether it is preparing for 2012 or celebrating being a top contractor in the market, adaptability is the lifeblood of the industry.