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January - December 2006
Editorial Calendar
Editorial Overview
Optimize's unique editorial perspective is a combination of the best business strategies and ideas translated into 90-day action plans. The articles are written by industry and business leaders, real-world consultants to CXOs, and the most innovative academic minds on business execution. A dedicated staff of editors, led by InformationWeek-veteran Brian Gillooly, develops and packages this powerful information into a compelling monthly magazine. Articles include charts with information about that research. An important component to each story is a half to one-page section called "The 90-Day Plan" in which the business strategy outlined in the article is given a basis in reality. It explains what readers can do with their technology or with their business (or both) to prepare for the changes described in the feature. Real-world cases within the articles also give the theoretical positions a basis in reality. 
| January 2006, Theme: Perfecting the Customer Experience |
Business technology has brought the vendor closer to the customer and there are those who believe it has also shifted the balance of power in the relationship more toward the customer. But some companies are co-creating the customer experience by engaging their buyers from the beginning of the process. It involves improved customer-touch technologies, business analytics, improved and better integrated business processes, and a centralized effort from executive management. It’s
changing not only the way companies interact with their customers but the very products and services they provide and focuses not on the sale or on the product but on the entire experience with the brand and the company.
Technology Innovation Series: CRM
Ad & Material Close Date: December 8
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| February 2006, Theme: Trusting Business Analytics and Visibility |
The metrics available to better understand the state of their business can confuse the most educated business technology executive. Analysis can come from internal or external sources and from technologies like BI, CRM, and ERP, as well as from consulting firms, vendors, educational institutions, and research labs. Understanding that one size doesn’t fit all, there are still ways to choose the right formula for their company to understand both how well their business technology is
performing, as well as how optimized their business opportunities are. In this issue Optimize takes a closer look at places that customers turn for the most trusted business analytic information, how CIOs can develop the right menu of metrics for their company, and how they use new and existing technologies like dashboards, quality-assurance software, and customer-management technologies to create the right level of – and most trusted – visibility into the business.
Technology Innovation Series: Data Management/Storage
Ad & Material Close Date: January 5
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| March 2006, Theme: IT Buying Power |
These days the IT dollar must go a long way. With budgets flat or up slightly, IT buyers are learning how to get the most out of technology buys, but it doesn’t start and end with negotiating the best price. It involves relying on technologies that allow CIOs to optimize their existing infrastructure and squeezing the most power and utility possible from the enterprise. It also requires a better understanding of a product or service’s total cost of ownership, maintenance fees, service-level agreements, and vendor histories. And it definitely requires better long-range planning by the CXO team of the business technology needs of the company in order to strengthen the buying power of products along the implementation curve.
Technology Innovation Series: Web Services
Ad & Material Close Date: February 2
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| April 2006, Theme: Optimizing the Core: Infrastructure and Business Data |
As one of the primary drivers of business strategy, the CIO must be sure that he or she is maximizing opportunities for the business from the inside out and working to optimize the most basic and central areas under their purview. To borrow a metaphor from Pilates, that means exercising or optimizing the ‘core,’ the very thing that holds a business together and allows the rest of a business’ ecosystems to flourish. CIOs are beginning to concentrate more on new ideas to streamline the business and technology infrastructure and to better understand what their business data is telling them and what it can do to help the rest of the company. Technologies discussed include application infrastructure, business intelligence, service-oriented architecture, middleware, business-process optimization, dashboarding and business-activity monitoring.
Technology Innovation Series: Business Integration
Ad & Material Close Date: March 9
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| May 2006, Theme: Achieving Operational Excellence |
Businesses have made huge investments in IT in an effort to link once-disconnected business units. But all the investments in the world won’t rev a business unless CIOs also focus their efforts on achieving operational excellence. That means making sure the technologies they’re using are at peak performance, employee productivity is being maximized, and especially that operating standards have been established and are being followed. Several trusted methodologies – such as Six Sigma and Balanced Scorecard – are being revised to better fit the needs of today’s businesses. And CIOs are using new technologies that streamline those efforts.
Technology Innovation Series: Business Intelligence
Ad & Material Close Date: April 6
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| June 2006, Theme: The Multidimensional CIO |
The linear path to the office of the CIO is a thing of the past. Few CIOs today would define themselves with a single purpose. In fact, studies show that many have even taken on formal titles that identify their multidimensional roles: CIO and VP of Supply Chain or CIO and Senior VP of Product Procurement, for example. Most CIOs, by nature of their business, have to be experts in security issues, finance, supply-chain optimization, business productivity, etc., and just about all
must be fluent in the core competencies of their company’s business, whether it be manufacturing, retail, services, or the like. That means excellence is now required in the knowledge and deployment of technologies such as business intelligence, customer care, knowledge management, information security and data management.
Technology Innovation Series: Knowledge Management
Ad & Material Close Date: May 4
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| July 2006, Theme: The Emerging IT Enterprise |
Despite the business technology leverage of business behemoths like Wal-Mart, Dell, and General Motors, there are a multitude of best practices, technology efficiencies, leading-edge products, and lean processes that are being used by small companies in their emerging enterprises that can teach some old dogs a few new tricks! Everything including organizational excellence, wireless deployment, business intelligence software, IT budgeting, and data integration are being expertly deployed and managed by IT departments that pale in size to large companies, but not in innovation and inspiration. As everyone’s extended supply networks become increasingly integrated with business partners of all sizes, these partners must be on the leading-edge of business-technology implementation no matter where the best ideas come from. Through a combination of general-session spotlight presentations and roundtable workshops, experts from small and large
enterprises share their insights on the most talked about – and some lesser known – IT concepts.
Technology Innovation Series: Networking
Ad & Material Close Date: June 1
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| August 2006, Theme: The CIO-CTO Partnership |
For many, the assumption is that the CIO helps manage the business while the CTO keeps track of advancements in technology. Both are custodians of the IT department, but to many the CTO is the one who knows more about the technology specifics. That’s changed, not only in certain industry segments or company sizes, but across most verticals. Today, it’s not always clear who is higher up on the org chart, nor who has more responsibility for making technology purchasing decisions. In
this issue, Optimize looks at this evolving partnership, explore what new skills each is taking on, examine the influence each has on the purchase process, and provide examples of companies that treat these roles in different ways. What kind of partnership is right for your company?
Technology Innovation Series: VOIP
Ad & Material Close Date: July 6
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| September 2006, Theme: TBD |
TBD.
Technology Innovation Series: TBD
Ad & Material Close Date: August 10
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| October 2006, Theme: The Power Issue |
This issue features the business technology brains, companies, and concepts that everybody needs to know – the “power centers” in the business technology industry. Optimize profiles standout companies and executives as voted by their peers and chosen by our editors in areas that include Top CXO, Most Innovative Company, Leading Vendor, and Best Consultant/Concept, with each category profiling the winner and several runners up. Also included in this special issue is information on where to turn to learn more, roadmaps from the leading vendors, action plans, and "hot tips" from the profiled experts. Categories include: Most Powerful CXOs in Business Technology (non-vendor); Most Innovative Users of IT; Most Respected Vendors; Most Powerful Consultants; Most Powerful VCs; Most Innovative Academics, and more.
Technology Innovation Series: Global Leadership Survey
Ad & Material Close Date: September 7
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| November 2006, Theme: The Secure Enterprise |
As security threats grow, pressure is building on both the IT department and its technologies as well as the overall business. Accountability is spreading throughout the CXO suite, putting the CIO at the center of the solution. And it’s no longer a defensive position. Forward-thinking CIOs are taking the opportunity to leverage the investments in securing the enterprise to uncover new business opportunities, new ways of reaching and satisfying customers, and new ways to boost
productivity.
Technology Innovation Series: Security
Ad & Material Close Date: October 5
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| December 2006, Theme: Managing Mobility |
The unwiring of corporations and governments is happening. Broadband and WIFI are becoming ubiquitous and new technologies are constantly emerging. It means wading through new management strategies, corporate culture issues, and cost vs. payback considerations for both the CIO and business counterparts. That includes safety, security, and privacy concerns, as well as
managing new business models. Optimize examines the financial management and strategic innovation aspects as well as new vertical industry applications in healthcare, retail, and financial services.
Technology Innovation Series: Wireless Technologies
Ad & Material Close Date: November 2
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