The CFO's guide to using the internet

Abstract

Despite all the hype, the Internet really can be a useful tool for CFOs. After a brief overview, the authors show how a CFO can use the Internet during a typical day, suggest solutions to some Internet problems, andgive a valuable list of Internet sites tailored to a CFO's needs.This article illustrates how a small but growing number of progressive CFOs are using the Internet to increase their productivity, improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which they gather information and make decisions for their organizations, and fulfill many of their personal and professional development needs. After presenting a brief overview of Internet basics, the article traces a day in the life of a "cyber CFO" to illustrate, in detail, how and where to find the information that CFOs need. While there are compelling reasons to use the Internet, there are, nevertheless, some risks as well. The article reviews five common problems associated with using the Internet and offers suggestions for overcoming these