CIO as Poet: Engaging the Arts in IT Management
Case number : 9 65 2026 001
Case published in the International Journal of Case Studies in Management, Vol. 24, No. 1
Date :
2026-03-10
Teaching notes included :
Yes
Abstract
This case depicts a real situation in a real organization. It outlines a best practice approach to Information Technology (IT) alignment, illustrated by a pivotal action taken by a new CIO at Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC). The NAC is a multilingual, multidisciplinary centre for the performing arts, offering programming across various streams, including theatre (French, English, and Indigenous languages), orchestra, dance, and popular music. The case demonstrates the importance of social, cultural, and intellectual IT alignment, as well as the vital role of the chief information officer (CIO) in strategic planning and IT implementation.
Teaching objectives
- Understand the importance of strategic alignment.
- Understand the role of social, cultural, and intellectual alignment.
- Understand the strategic role of a CIO, and the factors and actions that affect their success.
Primary domain :
Information technology
Secondary domain :
Management
- Arts management
Sectors :
Culture
Type :
Traditional case (Descriptive or analytical case)
Event location :
Canada
Year of start of the event :
2022
Year the event ended :
Not available
Business size :
Medium-sized enterprise