After March’s disappointing drop in small-business confidence, April’s Small Business Optimism index of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), rose 2.6 points to 92.1, just above the recovery average of 90.7. Yet pessimism abounds within the sector, as still far more of those surveyed expect business conditions to be worse in six months than those who think they will be better. Most cite taxes. regulations and weak sales as their chief challenges going forward.

In an exhaustive 2012 study of Chief Executives, "Time for New CEOs," Booz & Co. management consultants, reports the highest number of planned CEO successions at the world’s largest 2,500 public companies in the history of the study and finds that companies often seek familiarity in new CEOs. It also asserts that the “global CEO” is more myth than reality.

It’s no secret that information technology is core to modern business. To make the most of IT investments and innovations, chief executives must understand how technologies enable their company’s competitive advantage. Yet how many of today’s CIOs are considered the leading candidates to succeed their CEOs? Precious few—a weakness that CEOs and their boards should consider changing.