From Back Office to Boardroom: Repositioning Global IT by Educating the Line to Lead at British American Tobacco

Authors

Bradley C. Wheeler, Indiana UniversityFollow
George M. Marakas, Indiana UniversityFollow
Peter Brickley, British American TobaccoFollow

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.

Recommended Citation

Wheeler, Bradley C.; Marakas, George M.; and Brickley, Peter (2008) "From Back Office to Boardroom: Repositioning Global IT by Educating the Line to Lead at British American Tobacco," MIS Quarterly Executive: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/misqe/vol1/iss1/5