CIO's can and do generally benefit from participation in IT-related to the use of spatially professional associations

1. #Communi
The CIO and
professionalism
A legal perspective on the value of IT
industry and trade associations
By Lou Milrad
p rofessional Processing Society) to
and Trade learn about key "issues
Associations affecting the IT profes-
continue to be em- sion and industry" while
braced by the tech also striving to earn
sector, both at the and maintain an I.S.P.
customer and at the ("Information Systems
supplier leveL 1Ypi- Professional") designa-
cally, thcsc IT relatcd tion.
associations, whether A further example,
customcr or supplicr MISA ("Municipal
oriented, create oppor- Information Systems
tunities for their mem- Association") attracts
bel's to share insights both CIa's and IT staff
and non-confidential in its mission to "to
technical and business provide leadership and
relevant information promote excellence in
while also engaging the use ofinformation
in the development and communications
of strategies for best technology".
practices and provid- URISA - ac (Urban
ing valuable insights & Regional Informa-
into evolving and new tion Systems Associa-
technologies, and their tion - Ontario Chapter)
application within was created as a basis
member organizations. for bringing together its
public-private member-
Professional ship so as to focus on
Associations "industry standards and
CIa's can and do gener- economic and legislative
ally benefit from par- matters as they pertain
ticipation in IT-related to the use ofspatially
professional associations related information
such as the CIa Associa- systems" and accessibil-
tion ofCanada while IT ity to such land related
staff'may look to CIPS information through web
(Canadian Information portals, GIS, GPS, etc.
24 MARCH 2014
Lou Milrad is a Toronto-based business & IT lawyer who practices IT
Law and provides public & private sector clients with legal services
relating to technology licensing. procurement. commercialization.
cloud computing, open data and public-private alliances.
Trade Associations in an IBM, and going to
ITAC (the "Information market through e},:ternal
TechnologyAssociation Channel sales organiza-
ofCanada") and CATA tions. Hence the chan-
("Canadian Advanced nel chiefthat today is
TechnologyAssocia- not yet recognized as a
tion") are the two Ca- professional role, which
nadian key IT-supplier requires elevation to
associations. While each all stakeholders. This
has a specific mandate can be accomplished
and are seen as some- through cducation and
what competitive with an ecosystem. It will
one another, they are also reach out to CIOs to
similar in that they each better understand their
enjoy a profile member- specific challenges and
ship roster composed how the ecosystem might
the key IT and commu- be tweaked to address
nications companies in those challenges:' (Dis-
Canada. closure, the C4 is an IT
More recently, The World Canada initiative.)
Canadian Channel C4 has been embraced
Chiefs Council ("C4") by Avaya, Cisco, Dell,
has emerged with a Eaton, Epson, McAfee,
very distinct mission of Microsoft, NetApp, SAP,
becoming the" Voice" VMware, and'Vebsense.
of the Channel Chief The organization will
community in Canada: establish an advisory
"accelerating, retain- group of OEMs, Resell-
ing and ofsupporting ers, VARs, and Buying
the careers ofexisting Groups etc. which will
Channel Chiefs, as well provide input on the
as Channel profession- entire channel ecosys-
als". An all-encompass- tem. It will also reach
ing training and educa- out to CIOs to better
tion agenda coupled understand their specif-
with a University spon- ic challenges and how
sored accreditation is the ecosystem might
considered as a funda- be tweaked to address
mental component of those challenges.
C4's mission.
C4 Board Chair, Fawn The CIO and Vendor
Annan, describes the Trade Associations
founding rationale. "C4 Trade associations are
was created to fill the seen as valuable forums
gap between internal to enable CIOs to get in
Vendor sales-directbod- ii'ont ofthe vendor com-
ies, such as what exists munity so as to bctter

2. explain their organiza- Province ofOntario who • Connected professional ment, as Tell as access
tional needs, purchasing 'were -vorking on a paral- network to key decision to research.
strategies, while also Ie! Provincial initiative. makers and leaders in On reflection, I've
identifying further op- the IT community always found it critically
portunities for customer/ Commonality . Education important to become
supplier collaboration. of Canadian • Identification and actively involved in IT-
Such is the case, by Professional adoption of best related associations and
way ofexample, when &Trade Associations practices their activities. They
a government entity Created as Not For Prof~ • Information exchange present a rather unique
was about to undertake its (NFPs): Professional and knowledge- and critical opportunity
a revision oftheir IT & Trade Associations sharing to network with leaders,
procurement contract in Canada are generally • Leadership develop- actual and potential,
documents - the face- incorporated as Not For ment and the many others
to-face "business level" profits (NFPs) either fed- . Standards, economic with whom long-term
meetings between cus- erany under Canada Not- and legislative matters relationships will be
tomer CIOs and C-Suite for-profit Corporations • Professionalism & established and who
vendor representatives Act) or under a provincial professional conduct are but an email, phone
becomes an essential statute, such as, by way call, or coffee shop away.
and critical element of ofexample, Ontario's Absolutely Key Taking on responsibility,
any public-private col- Not-far-Profit Corpora- Component- as a workshop, special
laboration before getting tions Act, 2010 (ONCA) Relationship interest group, or event
legal involved. In this or B.C:s SocietyAct. Building: planning/organizing
example, the respective For most of my legal chair is a great way to
associations representing Shared Goals career, I've been en- become more familiar
a broad range ofcus- The incorporating gaged in the IT-related with the organization
tomers and key vendors documents, bylaws, and NFP world in a variety and its direction as well
would jointly organize varying initiatives un- ofcapacities, ranging as the politics - it's also
through the respective dertaken by Canadian from legal counsel, avid a great stepping-stone to
professional and trade IT-related professional supporter, and oftimes becoming a member of
associations, the overall and trade associations member - in fact, in the board ofdirectors.
consultation and con- reflect a common set of one instance, I was While we look to tech-
tract documenting pro- shared goals that typi- both Board Chair and related NFP's to pro-
cess. By way ofexample, cally embrace: CEO ofa public-private vide the Shared Goals
a few years back, MISA Accrcditation in some economic dcvelopmcnt described above, in my
supported by the Ontario instances (as for exam- investment attraction experience, their real
Public Buyers Associa- pic C4 and CIPS) agcncy establishcd as value lies in the per-
tion (OPBA) organized Advocacy - ranging NFP - so the question sonal relationships and
such a collaborative fTom informed and col- is what was the IT link knowledge capital that
approach through ITAC laborative responses to in this role? Answer are developed through
with respect to develop- proposed introduction - Attracting foreign- actively participating in
ing a framework con- or change oflegislation/ based IT companies by conferences, network-
tract document for the regulations, through to a encouraging them to ing forms, special inter-
purchase ofCommercial more visible and public invest in local econo- est groups, and other
Offthe Shelf(COTS) advocacy campaign in mies while also estab- person to person events
IT-related equipment, parallel ,,~th a govern- lishing introductions for that enable career relat-
software and services. It ment-relations strategy them to our colleges and ed relationship building
is interesting to also note . Awards and scholar- universities as a source and advancement.
that there was additional ships for talent, job recruit- If not already, it's time
collaboration with the • Business & IT ethics ment and replenish- to get involved!.
MARCH 2014 25