Finance Slideshow: 10 Ways CIOs Can Better Control Costs

As a shaky recovery tries desperately to hang on, CIOs are being asked by management to find ways to put a leash on costs. The fear is that the economy will turn sour again, causing a double-dip recession that could have a profound effect on company bottom lines. In fact, Gartner is strongly advising CIOs to prepare now for the next economic downturn. For CIOs, cutting costs is a dangerous game. On one hand, it is quite easy to remove expenses from the books. You can remove applications, ditch hardware, or -- the last resort -- lay off employees. But none of these cost-savings methods are preferred. All will effect productivity, and could potentially have a negative impact on your company's net income. With that in mind, CIOs need to consider the best ways of controlling costs while simultaneously maintaining, or even increasing, profitability. In our competitive worldwide marketplace, that is no mean feat. To help you along, we have compiled the 10 best techniques to control costs through technology initiatives that can also boost revenues.