What is IT innovation?
CIOs must lead the charge when it comes to being creative, argues Mark Samuels in his latest column.


Both of the above examples of innovation are the types of IT-enabled change being pushed through by UK businesses. Neither are necessarily unique forms of innovation. But both provide new solutions to intractable business challenges. And both can provide benefits in terms of the bottom line.
The demand for IT-enabled change comes from every department in a modern organisation. CIOs must take a key role in the digital transformation, drawing on years of experience regarding the implementation of technology. IT leaders, in short, must embrace innovation.
Dr Mark Samuels, editor at advisory organisation CIO Connect, examines the future role of the IT leader in this new monthly column.
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Mark Samuels is a freelance writer specializing in business and technology. For the past two decades, he has produced extensive work on subjects such as the adoption of technology by C-suite executives.
At ITPro, Mark has provided long-form content on C-suite strategy, particularly relating to chief information officers (CIOs), as well as digital transformation case studies, and explainers on cloud computing architecture.
Mark has written for publications including Computing, The Guardian, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Times Higher Education, and CIONET.
Before his career in journalism, Mark achieved a BA in geography and MSc in World Space Economy at the University of Birmingham, as well as a PhD in economic geography at the University of Sheffield.
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