CIO weekly wrap-up: Launching a BI system, outsourcing, 2009 IT hiring

I hope everybody had a nice weekend! For those playing catch-up, here are the most recent stories from SearchCIO.com:

• Five questions to ask before launching a BI system — An economy in recession puts business intelligence (BI) on the top of the 2009 agenda. But CIOs will have to look at BI differently moving forward. Want five tips for getting it right? Read on.

• Economic downturn will hurt IT hiring in 2009 – Unfortunately, you knew this news was probably coming. A new survey shows fewer jobs, the possibility of layoffs, a flattening of salaries and a rise in the number of qualified IT job applicants ahead.

• Managing user adoption makes the most of a BI solution – A good case study for those looking to manage a BI solution adoption correctly: A user-friendly interface and superior architecture sold Meredith Corp. on a BI solution from MicroStrategy, but it was IT’s rigorous “managed adoption” process that ensured people used it.

• Gartner picks top 30 countries for offshore IT outsourcing – Moving beyond outsourcing giants India and China, learn more about countries like Mexico, Poland and Vietnam, which have strengthened their offerings as outsourcing alternatives.