Innovative Thinking As a new CIO at an organization, you need to develop a team that can look towards the future and innovative ideas and technologies that will help improve the organization’s mission. One such way to ensure innovation is at the front of an organization is to create a working group that is comprised of IT leaders inside the company that is centered around exploring new technologies that have the potential to propel innovation. Technology moves at the speed of light, and every organization needs to constantly be looking towards the future to improve current business processes, especially those aligned with IT resources and infrastructure. This working group would be a way to ensure that IT leaders around the organization have a way to communicate any potential idea to top level leadership. Meetings should be an open forum managed directly by the CIO who then takes on the role of innovation driving force when ideas presented align with the mission of the company. The purpose of these meetings is to continually drive innovation and ensure that all IT departments in the organization are always looking for ways to improve the organization. New technologies would include anything that improves efficiency, lowers cost, or creates a better customer service for the organization. The CIO needs to ensure they push the idea of envisioning the future through these meetings and enable all participants the ability to voice ideas and concerns. Secondly strategy a new CIO could engage is regular open luncheons with customers. High engagement with current or prospective customers could bring a host of new ideas and innovative ways to pursue those ideas that may not be as evident from those inside your organization. Regularly meeting with customers through open venues like company paid luncheons, seminars and