Our Principal - Al Venslovaitis
For 20 years, Al Venslovaitis was a successful CIO with five Canadian multinational corporations – Sherritt Gordon Mines, Canada Wire and Cable, the interior systems group of Magna International, de Havilland Division of Bombardier Aerospace Group and The Globe and Mail. In these roles he worked with the Executive Team to develop an IT strategy and to carry it out, usually within challenging financial constraints.
From 1999 until 2011, Al was an IT management consultant providing clients advice on how to make successful investments in Information Technology. He advised clients on IT strategy, and helped them to implement key initiatives often in the role of their interim or part-time CIO.
Most recently, from 2011 through 2014, Al was employed at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), first as the Director in charge of information technology projects, then completing the last 9 months of his tenure as Acting CIO.
In these capacities, Al has been a valued contributor to the success of a substantial number of enterprises in many different kinds of businesses, with many cultures, at many different stages of their development. As such he is eminently qualified to apply his experiences and his learnings to your particular circumstances.
Our Services
The services we provide (summarized below) are based on a simple and practical model of information technology management that we have refined over many years of successful professional practice. In our work we expect performance and behaviours that conform to this model. We zero in on exceptions and consider remedial action if required.
If a client requests us to do so, we are pleased to describe the model.
Prospective clients who are curious and would like to gain some insight into the model independently are invited to browse our IT Management blogs on LinkedIn, or to even buy the book "Lessons from the trenches - perspectives of a survivor CIO". The LinkedIn blog entitled: Instalment #6 of "Lessons from the Trenches" provides a brief overview of just the model. (Please "follow" Al Venslovaitis on LinkedIn to see all our posts. )
If a client requests us to do so, we are pleased to describe the model.
Prospective clients who are curious and would like to gain some insight into the model independently are invited to browse our IT Management blogs on LinkedIn, or to even buy the book "Lessons from the trenches - perspectives of a survivor CIO". The LinkedIn blog entitled: Instalment #6 of "Lessons from the Trenches" provides a brief overview of just the model. (Please "follow" Al Venslovaitis on LinkedIn to see all our posts. )
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Consultation: This is a "one size fits all" quick assessment of your information technology department and its relationships with internal stakeholders. We provide this service on a fixed price, fixed timeline basis delivering a written report to the executive sponsor in advance of an in-person question and answer session.
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Diagnostic: This is a comprehensive situation assessment. It is tailored to the size and complexity of the enterprise and its information technology department. Price and timeline are fixed based on the scope of analysis agreed beforehand with the executive sponsor. A written report outlining observations and recommendations is delivered several days prior to a formal presentation to the executive sponsor and his/her selected guests.
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Interim Management: We fill the role of CIO or of one of the direct reports to the CIO on a temporary basis. We prefer to jointly define the completion criteria with the executive sponsor in advance of the assignment. Depending on the assignment, pricing can be fixed or per diem until completion. Status reports are provided either verbally or in writing as preferred by the client.
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Coaching, Mentoring, Counselling: These are three similar but distinct services provided to the CIO or one of his/her direct reports. Success criteria are defined beforehand with the recipient of the services, and with the executive sponsor if this is appropriate. Progress reports are provided either verbally or in writing as agreed beforehand.
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