[Snuffington]

Only in the movies. In the real world, a CFO that gets that letter wanders down the hall to the CIO's office and says, "What's this?" That's because if a CFO ever pulled a stunt like that where he called some big meeting and blindsided the CIO with this, everybody would look at him like he was a jerk.

While some CFO's are perfectly comfortable being jerks, they tend not to last very long. So in general I totally agree with your point.

These things aren't technical or financial to CIO's and CFO's nearly to the extent that they're political. In the politics of the board room, one does not shoot off his mouth about this sort of issue without already lining up a win. And if your win means another exec loses, you either line up an easy out for him with his consent, or you're attacking him on purpose and for keeps.

[Nick Danger]

And if your win means another exec loses, you either line up an easy out for him with his consent, or you're attacking him on purpose and for keeps.

OK, I admit it, "You don't do that to people unless you want a life of harpoons in the back" was a little hyperbolic.