WHO Can Lead This?

As with most complex and difficult things, it all comes down to Leadership and Talent.  In other words, do you have the skill and the will to pull off this kind of sustained modernization effort?  Here is where talent matters.   It matters in general, but leadership talent really matters.   There is more than ample technical capability around the globe and firms that can help in many ways.
However, the systems thinking on the part of executive leadership led by a CIO that understands the business and has the passion to formulate, sell and implement the change is critical.  I continue to believe that most companies require about a dozen senior leaders that understand WHY we need to change, WHAT needs to change, and HOW we would go about it.   Charting the course over very rugged terrain requires that the CIO be a leader among leaders and that the role changes from simply the Chief Information Officer to the Chief Integration Officer.