Vet quantitative assessment metrics with your largest shareholders and publish them in quarterly or annual reports. Keep the metrics simple and directly tied to a business metric watched closely by investors%mdash;for example, data will be well received if you can articulate how your IT investments impacted EBITDA.

From the Vault:

Step 2: Improve Management's Technology Quotient.

We live in a world where high IQ is rewarded. When combined with a high Emotional Quotient (EQ), the rewards are significantly greater. But what about TQ--technology quotient? Our world is rapidly evolving to a place where technology will discreetly permeate every aspect of our business and personal lives. In this world, board members and executives with a high TQ will shine.

High TQ managers are cognizant of the impact of Moore's Law on their businesses. They take advantage of technology inflection points to steer their organizations to competitively advantageous positions. For instance, in the near future, GPU computing power on smartphones will let sales reps crunch complex pricing calculations in the middle of a negotiation, and get quick approvals on discounts and deal structures, rather than wait for a multi-day turnaround from the pricing department. Executives who recognize this nascent trend in widely-available GPU computing for business applications will be able to empower their customer-facing employees with tools that will make the competition look extremely dated.