Strategize in Sync with Evolution of Work Culture

Brian LeClaire, CIO, Humana

1237

2012

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Brian LeClaire, CIO, Humana

Challenges and solutions

As a health care company building an integrated care delivery model, our challenge in enabling integrated care delivery was having the right technologies in place and developing key talent and a values-based work culture. Over time we have acquired or developed capabilities in the clinical and technical domains, aligned with our multi-pronged approach and integrated them to ensure we provide overarching care for our consumers–in meeting them where their health is by pioneering simplicity, rethinking routine, cultivating uniqueness, thriving together and inspiring health.

Keeping a close watch

With the growing influence of smartphones and tablets in the personal use space, people like to use those same devices in the work place. Companies have a new challenge in maintaining a subtle balance between providing security versus flexibility. Companies should have a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ strategy in place, making room for this evolution in the work environment. Data and information security gains precedence in today’s world as the realm of office infrastructure undergoes transformation due to the use of consumer devices. Companies need to have a means for securely managing data movement within the corporate environment. Safeguarding the data and information of our members, customers, providers and the company overall is an important and ongoing challenge. Businesses have to work relentlessly to keep data and information from being compromised. With the growing influence of smartphones and tablets in the personal use space, people like to use those same devices in the work place. Companies have a new challenge in maintaining a subtle balance between providing security versus flexibility. Companies should have a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ strategy in place, making room for this evolution in the work environment. Data and information security gains precedence in today’s world as the realm of office infrastructure undergoes transformation due to the use of consumer devices. Companies need to have a means for securely managing data movement within the corporate environment. Safeguarding the data and information of our members, customers, providers and the company overall is an important and ongoing challenge. Businesses have to work relentlessly to keep data and information from being compromised.

Leveraging the current technology advancements

Mobility, cloud, social networking and analytics are current trends transforming the business world. Understanding ubiquitous data and information, generated through cloud services, is critical to any business’ success today. Social networking has redefined communication and consumer engagement, providing interesting opportunities for business use. Analytics, however, is going to play the most influential role in delivering on almost any business strategy. Clearly, analytics insights, derived from information gathered both internal and external to the business has tremendous implications in energizing business plans. In our space, we use analytics and insights to aid in delivering on the promise of population health. We take a holistic view of our consumers, providers, employers and others, then convert that into ‘Insights in Action.’

My role as a CIO

Operational excellence is necessary, but not sufficient, in my role as CIO. It is also not sufficient to just ponder on new ways to apply technology. To stand out as a CIO, one has to be both operationally excellent and deliver on one’s business strategy through new uses of technology.

Advice for fellow CIOs

A CIO has to be agile, open-minded, logical and empathetic. He or she should reflect upon the suggestions made by others, whether technologists or not, in order to deliver on strategies and solutions that are most beneficial for the business.