the emerging strategic cio infographic

Radical innovations in technology are increasing the

importance of IT in achieving core business objectives—and the

role of IT professionals is shifting accordingly. Chief Information

Of�cers are seeing their roles grow ever-more strategic.

The Strategic CIO

SOURCES

CMO Council. (2013 March). Big Data’s Biggest Role: Aligning the CMO & CIO.Economist Intelligence Unit (2013 June). The Strategic CIO: Survey ResultsEvans, B. (2012 September 28). The Top 10 Strategic CIO Issues For 2013. Forbes. Retrieved June 19, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle/2012/09/28/the-top-10-strategic-cio-issues-for-2013/Gordon, H. (2008). The Chief Information Of�cer: A Review of the Role. Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations, 5, 125+. Watson, B. (2009 October 9). ROI and the Strategic CIO. Retrieved June 19, 2013, from http://blogs.cioinsight.com/it-strategy/roi-and-the-strategic-cio.html

Customer-centric manager - Focus is on customer needs, desires and concerns and how IT can address them

Operates �rst as a business executive, second as technology expert; speaks the language of the business

Increased responsibility to promote game-changing innovations

The principal strategist in key emerging areas like big data analysis, customer-facing mobile applications, enterprise social networks, and online learning

Targets technology budget towards innovation, funding essential new efforts in analytics, cloud, mobile and social

VS.Operational CIO Strategic CIO

Tech-centric manager - Focus is on managing complex IT projects

Struggles to present complex topics through a non-technical lens and present a compelling business case for new technologies

Limited ability to promote game-changing innovations

A principal strategist in traditional areas of technology responsibility (business process infrastructure, security, and cloud computing)

Trapped in 80/20 budget habit – 80% of the budget goes to maintaining existing IT infrastructure and 20% to innovation

Challenges

Strategies

Explain how new technologies can solve customer problems

60%

In an Economist Intelligence Unit survey, sponsored by EMC, respondents cited key challenges faced by CIOs attempting to become more strategic, and the strategies they must adopt to succeed.

53% Better understanding of the business to align tech advice

with business goals

51%Ability to deal with constant change

40%Communication skills to

promote new ideas effectively

39%Educate other senior executives about the bene�ts of emerging

technologies for innovation

26%Setting realistic business

expectations and defending decisions in the face of technology

“hype”

23%Dif�culty creating

convincing business case for purchasing and

integrating new and emerging technology

Work with the CEO: CEOs are most likely to support new initiatives to align technology with business goals; they have a better understanding of how technology can in�uence the enterprise as a whole

Hone the top 3 skills needed to be an effectively strategic CIO:

37%An inability to predict costs and returns on

technology investments

36%Rapidly changing business models 38%

Inadequate technical skill sets among employees both on the IT and business sides

of the organization

Alignment of expectations among C-level managers (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CIO, etc.)