The financial metrics that CIOs and fellow senior executives strive to meet measure corporate health, not specific IT achievements. That suits "mature professionals" just fine, says Wayne Shurts, CIO of Supervalu, a $36.1 billion grocery chain.
"Some years [your compensation] may get pulled down by the company's overall performance and other years you may get pulled up," he says. "What's important is that everybody is focused on the company's performance, not their individual function." (See also " The New Bottom Line on CIO Pay."
Wal-Mart was criticized this year for lowering targets for some performance metrics, making them easier to hit and, as a result, making it easier for executives to earn large bonuses. Shareholders expressed concern that the company now emphasizes sales growth at the expense of return on investment.
