Staples, Inc.
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, MA

Making IT Risk Relevant to Non-IT Executives

Top performing companies manage IT risks as they manage financial risks - to achieve competetive benefits.  In this session George will share the highlights from his book, IT Risk: Turning Business Threats into Competetive Advantage.  Based on research at more than 150 companies, the book develops concepts like the "Four As" for discussing IT risks in business language and three core disciplines for managing IT risk.  Discussion will focus on how effective IT risk management can change the nature of conversations between IT and business managers.

George Westerman

Research Scientist - Center for Information Systems Research

MIT Sloan School of Management

George Westerman is a Research Scientist in MIT Sloan’s Center for Information Systems Research (CISR) and faculty chair for the course IT for the Non-IT Executive.  His research and teaching examine executive-level management challenges at the interface between IT and business units.  Key topics include risk management, innovation, and communicating about the business value of IT.  

George’s books IT Risk: Turning Business Threats into Competitive Advantage   His new book The Real Business of IT: How CIO’s Create and Communicate Value have been named the #1 IT-Business books.  George’s research has also appeared in journals such as Sloan Management Review, Organization Science, MIS Quarterly Executive, IESE Insight, and numerous MIT CISR working papers.

George is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader for industry events and corporate meetings.  Prior to earning his doctorate at Harvard Business School, George gained more than fifteen years of experience in IT and corporate management.  In addition to his research and teaching, George serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the Association for Information Systems and on advisory committees for several non-profit organizations.

From either the East or the West on the Mass. Turnpike

• Take Exit 12 in Framingham
• Go through the toll booth and stay to the left
• Follow the signs to Crossing Blvd.
• Take the Crossing Blvd. ramp (bearing left)
• Take a left on Staples Drive-Staples is on the left
• Park in either the Visitors Parking Lot or anywhere to the left of the building

From 495 or from the West on Route 9

• Take Route 9 East approximately 5 miles from Route 495
• Take the Crossing Blvd/Route 30 exit from Route 9
• At the light at the top of the ramp, take a right (continue to next light)
• Proceed to the next and turn right on Staples Drive (you can see Staples ahead of you)
• Park in Visitors lot or anywhere to the left of the building

From the East on Route 9

• Take Route 9 West past the Exit 12 entrance to the Mass. Turnpike
• Follow the signs to Crossing Blvd.
• Take the Crossing Blvd. ramp (bearing left)
• Take a left on Staples Drive-Staples is on the left
• Park in either the Visitors Parking Lot or anywhere to the left of the building