Even the savviest general won't have much luck in battle without the right forces.

Maybe that's why we've been seeing an increasing number of articles like this one in Computerworld on finding IT staff with the right skills, most notably a bent for business. Also desired: good communication skills, a predilection for problem solving, and an ability to lead teams.

These are the same skills we see stressed in the many articles about the new and more strategic CIO. Lately momentum is building for ensuring that IT staff possess the same kinds of business-friendly attributes.

Some CIOs are breeding more familiarity with the business among existing IT staff by locating them near the users they support, a strategy used by Verizon Communications.