Jeff Cavins, chief executive of CallWave, knows well the troubles with giving stuff away.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Usually, chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie shows off a range of stuff from his 800 scientists, from data center software to social networking toys.

FORBES: Microsoft's Research, Kinect's Future

It is dusty, smelly stuff that reeks of money to Joseph von Rosenberg, chief of Omega Protein.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Jones, Rockwell's chief executive, has wrung hundreds of millions of dollars in cost cuts, he never shortchanges the important stuff.

FORBES: Top Gun

"If you get this kind of stuff rolling, " he says, "it will help you attract better chief executive candidates"--and, presumably, reduce the chance of parachuting in a VC later.

FORBES: Wet Nurse Wanted

To me, the chief role of the CIO is to find what those indicators of overall business are and make sure the company monitors this stuff.

FORBES: Larry Ellison