Patrick, I've been reading your blog and the various comments with great interest. You've woven a thought provoking concept between some contentious lines. As you can see by some of the comments your idea may never leave the launch pad. While your intentions are good the direction you?ve chosen is too close to home.

It's true there are probably many Financial C's out there walking around with a perceived black eye over what's happened in the latest recession. Most of them are not responsible for what happened, of course, but a small handful of their cohorts working in a few businesses critical to the economy overall were culpable. So a lot of people are feeling a bit embarrassed at the moment. Suggesting that IT should give itself a black eye in order to join the parade would only add to that embarrassment, mainly your own.

At this point you'd make more hay by fostering trust, respect and cooperation at the C-level. Work towards collaboration and treat your fellow C's with dignity by providing an environment where they can improve their self-esteem. Simply sew the seeds of good communication.

In the playground, if your best friend got a black eye for taking on a bigger kid without knowing the full risk would you say: "He deserved to get his lights knocked out." or would you stand by his side and try to console him? (If you answered the former perhaps you should read "Bradshaw on the Family".)

Better to engage your C-suite by reminding them that, through it all, the intent of IT is to always support the business and regardless of the financial strategies that might have failed IT stands behind the company.