Jay Levine was most recently SVP/CIO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. While at BCBSMN he was responsible for the company’s overall technology strategy, IT operations and the delivery of all enterprise information systems to meet the needs of our providers and members. Levine has more than 25 years of experience building and leading high-performing software development groups and information technology organizations. Prior to joining Blue Cross, he served as executive vice president of product development and chief technology officer for Minneapolis-based Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, working on compliance and analytic solutions for the banking, mortgage, insurance and securities markets.
Levine also served as vice president of software development for the Thomson Corporation, where he oversaw the development of award-winning and market-leading training and knowledge management solutions for the legal marketplace. Levine has a Bachelor of Science in computer and information sciences from the University of Maryland; a Masters of Science in information systems from George Mason University; and a Masters of Science in the management of technology from the University of Minnesota.
DistilNFO – Exclusive Interview
DistilNFO: What do you think are the top technology trends CIOs would adopt in 2012?
Jay Levine: The two dominant trends that CIOs need to pay attention to are mobile platforms and cloud computing. Regardless of industry, individuals who spend time on-line are doing so more and more via their mobile platform. Likewise, services that traditionally were deployed in the enterprise, both front- and back-office, are increasingly available in the cloud as SaaS.
DistilNFO: What should CIOs avoid in 2012?
Jay Levine: Rushing to move to the cloud until all dynamics of the marketplace and vendor capabilities are fully understood. There is a lot of hype out there plus a lot of churn in the cloud vendor marketplace. It would be wise to go slow.
DistilNFO: To outsource or not is a big question every CIO deals with, what is your advice to CIOs considering IT outsourcing?
Jay Levine: We’re beyond the first and even second generation of outsourcing deals. It is increasingly difficult to find good partners in India, even amoung the big Tier 1 players. Newer markets have opened up like Vietnam, Brazil, and China, but they will go through the same challenges as India is experiencing once qualified labor gets tight.
To me the most interesting trend in outsourcing today is near-sourcing in under-leveraged areas of the U.S. There are some very exciting opportunities within 500 miles of most metropolitan areas that may not be as cost effective on a unit-cost basis but can yield a much more stable and cost effective relationship if looked at through the lens of total-cost-of-engagement.
DistilNFO: Can you share your view of IT vendors? Pure play offshore Vs US Based outsourcing vendors?
Jay Levine: I think the bigger issues isn’t pure play vs US based, but between the very large players and the boutique players. All of the very large players are having trouble provisioning customers and keeping qualified staff on engagements, especially maintenance contracts. However there are always interesting specialized vendors out their with more mature staffs, whether by subject matter domain or technology, that are worth watching.
DistilNFO: What skills do IT Leaders need to build or enhance in 2012?
Jay Levine: Staff development and mentoring is still the key to building a great team. Second, it is critical that every CIO get their heads out of the technology and instead deeply vested in the business.
DistilNFO: What is your view of social media and its adoption in the enterprise?
Jay Levine: Over the past twenty-five years I’ve seen collaboration efforts come and go in the enterprise, starting with Lotus Notes, then intranets, Sharepoint and now Facebook. They are all only as good as the culture of the leadership and staff.
My own point-of-view is there is no substitute for face-to-face (or even just voice-to-voice) communications to really bind relationships.
DistilNFO: Any closing thoughts to help IT leaders be more effective in 2012?
Jay Levine: Stay focused on the business and how your division supports the customer (both internal and external)—it is the only key to success.