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MIS Quarterly Executive

Abstract

British American Tobacco (BAT), the third largest in its industry, employs 90,000 people in 182 countries around the world - in 68 operating companies and 86 manufacturing and processing sites. In 1996, BATs Head of IT reported to the CFO, no top IT executive in a BAT operating company was on the top management team, and line executives and IT staff operated in quite different realms. Today, BAT¡¯s CIO holds a seat on the board and reports directly to the CEO, 90 percent of the operating company CIOs are on their company¡¯s board, and two former country-level CEOs run BAT¡¯s IT strategic planning operation. In less than five years¡¯ time, IT has moved from back office to boardroom. How did this happen? Through a series of continuing IT education programs - for line managers, IT managers, and even the board - delivered in partnership with a university.

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