what is a chief information technology officer

The CIO, or chief information officer, emerged as a job title in the 1980’s: This highly technical person would oversee the information technology department’s resources and staff. This is also often a signal to job-hunting CIOs of a progressive organization, recruiters say. A data protection officer (DPO) is a position within a corporation that acts as an independent advocate for the proper care and use of customer’s information. “The biggest lesson learned from my first job in the CIO position was how critical it is, more than ever, that the strategy at the CIO level is completely aligned to enable the overall business strategy,” Bedi says. This CTO may oversee the company's data, security, maintenance and the network of a company, and may implement (but not necessarily set) the company's technical strategy. "The CIO and CHRO are partnering more to make the employee experience as great as the customer experience.". The CPO and CTO share the same goal as most executives do — to build and deliver the best possible outcomes for customers and for the company. C-Suite is a widely-used informal term used to refer collectively to a corporation's most important senior executives—as in CEO, CFO, and COO. Keep up with the latest thoughts, strategies, and insights from CIOs & IT leaders. In military organisations, the CIO reports to the commanding officer. Of course, most CIO compensation packages come in much higher than that, including stock, bonuses, and other perks. The average CIO earns additional cash compensation of $38,863 a year, according to Glassdoor's data. This kind of CTO will help set up the corporate strategy and fuel technological infrastructure, and will analyze target markets, and create business models. A chief technical officer, sometimes known as a chief technology officer or chief technologist, is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupation is focused on the scientific and technological issues within an organization. A chief technology officer (CTO) is an executive who is responsible for the management of an organization's research and development (R&D) as well as its technological needs. A chief technology officer (CTO) is the executive in charge of an organization's technological needs as well as its research and development (R&D). As ServiceNow CIO Chris Bedi puts it, the CIO role currently requires the CIO to embody three crucial personas: communicator, salesperson, and influencer. Here’s how he describes his role: “Like many tech execs, I was hired to wear multiple hats. Looking to land a DevOps job – or hire for one? IT leaders looked for these top skills when hiring DevOps professionals in 2020, according to the DevOps Institute's annual survey. As the power of technology has grown in recent years, the relevance of the chief information officer (CIO) role has expanded in kind. What Is a Chief Information Technology Officer? the CIO role currently requires the CIO to embody three crucial personas, 4 styles of decision-making: A leader’s guide, Transformation Masters: The New Rules of CIO Leadership, Giving up control and embracing failure are key, Goodbye soft skills, hello core skills: Why IT must rebrand this critical competency, The Open Organization Guide to IT Culture Change, 10 TED talks to sharpen your communication skills, Top soft skills for IT leaders and how to master them, The unique story and evolution of the CSO role, 5 lessons on the people side of data: City of Asheville CIO, comparison of 25 Fortune 500 CIO pay packages, DevOps careers: 35 key hiring stats from 2020, Digital transformation: 3 expectations CIOs can't falter on in 2021, Digital transformation: 4 ways to help IT teams adapt to disruption. Expect CIOs to take more of a lead on hiring and training for new skills and identifying who enterprises need to develop over the near- to medium-term, predicts Patrick Heffernan, senior analyst at Technology Business Research.“CIOs that are active now in setting the training agenda are the ones to watch,” he adds. You might call them “soft skills,” but any CIO will tell you these are the hardest skills to learn. “As we’ve seen time and time again in today’s workplace, technology helps enable new ways of business, collaboration, productivity – the potential and possibilities are endless. Many large companies need both a CTO and CIO, while smaller companies have one or the other. A recent study by Deloitte’s U.S. CIO Program found that just over half (51 percent) of CIOs in the U.S. were reporting to the chief executive (as were 40 percent of global CIOs overall). • Manages the overall technology roadmap of the business. “While the number of CIOs reporting to C-suite executives other than the CEO has been declining through the years, Forrester found that almost half still do. As previously noted, many CIOs play a central role in digital transformation. (Their estimates are based on salaries submitted anonymously to the site.) The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is accountable for directing the information and data integrity of the enterprise and its groups and for all Information Technology functions of the enterprise. The position is usually at the executive level and most often reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Privacy Statement | Terms of use | Contact. “They need to perfect their methods for drawing multiple parties into a dialog and ensuring everyone feels heard. A chief information officer (CIO) is the company executive responsible for the management and implementation of information and computer technologies. As of early 2020, Michael Kratsios is the current and fourth CTO of the U.S. Technology is moving away from physical assets and moving toward virtual assets using cloud technology, big data, and the Internet of Things. Techopedia explains Chief Information Officer (CIO) • Implements the business’s technical strategy, but doesn’t set it. They play a big part in helping enterprises navigate their way through digital changes. The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. The CIO’s responsibility for digital transformation, along with the rise of DevOps and agile styles of work, means the CIO works in a more cross-functional way than ever before, as noted in our HBR Analytics Services report, Transformation Masters: The New Rules of CIO Leadership. Laurianne McLaughlin is Content Director for The Enterprisers Project, delivering analysis and advice for the IT leadership community. As Enterprisers’ Stephanie Overby recently reported, CIOs that struggle in these areas have lost some of their responsibilities to other functions or business units. “There’s nothing soft about soft skills. Whether a company has a CIO, a chief technology officer (CTO), or both depends on company culture. The CIO role is also seeing a return of decision-maker clout with vendors and consultants in digital transformation work, versus line-of-business heads. On the emerging technology front, a top CIO concern is how to apply AI and machine learning in sensible and ethical ways. The chief information officer (CIO) has an information technology (IT) background and manages an organization’s technology and IT interdepartmental manager communications. Companies focusing on scientific and electronic products employ CTOs who are responsible for the oversight of intellectual property and have backgrounds in the industry. The CIO, or chief information officer, emerged as a job title in the 1980’s: This highly technical person would oversee the information technology department’s resources and staff. The old leadership rules don’t apply,” the report says. A note on advertising: The Enterprisers Project does not sell advertising on the site or in any of its newsletters. Subscribe to get the latest thoughts, strategies, and insights from enterprising peers. Also known as a chief technical officer, this individual examines the short- and long-term needs of an organization and utilizes capital to make investments designed to help the organization reach its objectives. What Is a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)? The difference with the CTO role is that I am looking to commercialize and monetize technology. Project management involves planning and organization of a company's resources to move a specific task, event, or duty toward completion. While CIOs and IT leaders traditionally reported up through finance, that has become less common. “This was truly a cross-functional effort, in which everyone from finance to product teams came together to lay out the vision. CTOs are responsible for the technological development of their company. You need to make relationships – with people in your community, with other partners, and with other departments – before you need them.” (Read also: 5 lessons on the people side of data: City of Asheville CIO.). Many CIOs came up through the ranks in a culture that was known for its “command and control” style. To achieve both objectives, IT and HR will begin to work together more closely to create a common framework and language, as well as a joint plan.”. Because technology is … A Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the most senior technology executive inside an organisation. “Successful CIOs have become business leaders of digital business units or have empowered IT organizations to create the digital backbone to accelerate the move to hybrid cloud environments and new operating models,” says Steve Hall, partner and president at technology research and advisory firm ISG. The Enterprisers Project is an online publication and community focused on connecting CIOs and senior IT leaders with the "who, what, and how" of IT-driven business innovation. Read also: 4 styles of decision-making: A leader’s guide. “Fast-moving, cross-functional teams of people from different parts of the organization experiment and innovate together to deliver new products and capabilities at an unprecedented pace. There are typically four different kinds of CTOs, whose main duties may differ. However, ‘new‘ is often synonymous with ‘change,‘ and change is often met with trepidation. However, in some cases, a different reporting relationship than CIO/CEO may fit. The CTO has a strategic planning role, while the CIO has a technology-focused role. But the responsibilities and role of the CTO also depend on the company. “This step will require CIOs to gain a better understanding of not just new digital technologies and how to cost-effectively operate them, but also to better understand the specific business their enterprise is in and how IT can drive new revenue opportunities and accelerate company growth,” Singh says. “The top four reporting structures for a CIO are to the CEO, COO, CFO, and – at times – the CAO,” says Carol Lynn Thistle, managing director at CIO recruiting firm Heller Search Associates. As of early 2020, PayScale reported the average CTO salary as $159,000. According to the Robert Half Technology 2020 salary guide, which rates top IT jobs by salary for 2020 (ranked by national median salary) big data engineer checks in at number one, at $163,250. The CTO may also manage the company's technological roadmap. In the CIO role, I focused more on optimizing, streamlining, and allowing employees to be more productive with tools to get their job done more quickly and easily.”, Sven Gerjets is EVP and chief technology officer at toymaker Mattel. He predicts CIOs will shape more HR issues in 2020. “Like the CIO, the CHRO is also stepping into a more strategic role, and as a result, the CIO and CHRO are partnering more to make the employee experience as great as the customer experience,” Bedi says. In other words, today’s CIOs are not only sharp analysts on the lookout for business opportunities, but also skilled people motivators. That type of iteration exemplifies the agile style of work that many digital enterprises have found essential to improving time to market and customer experience. Get the free eBook: “The Open Organization Guide to IT Culture Change,” featuring advice from 20+ IT practitioners, industry leaders, and technologists. A Chief Information Officer (CIO) is an executive that oversees the information technology (IT) needs of a company. Notes Jay Ferro, CIO, Quikrete: “I work hard to be a leader who can say, ‘You’re here for a reason. Unlike the chief information officer (CIO), the role of chief technology officer (CTO) does not have a standard definition. Chief technology officers are important executives at consumer goods manufacturers, IT firms, and private research organizations. I trust you. Let's examine five automation issues that matter post-Kubernetes rollout – and advice for teams grappling with them. Video: The rise and rise of the CIO What is a CIO? A chief technology officer (CTO) is an executive who is responsible for the management of an organization's research and development (R&D) as well as its technological needs. Chief information officer, chief digital information officer or information technology director, is a job title commonly given to the most senior executive in an enterprise who works with information technology and computer systems, in order to support enterprise goals. Thinking on your organization's digital transformation goals for 2021? (Read also: Goodbye soft skills, hello core skills: Why IT must rebrand this critical competency.). Chief Technology Officer The Chief Technology Officer is in charge of running the entire engineering department. The title was popular with dot-com companies in the 1990s and then expanded to IT departments. “CIOs are increasingly being handed the keys to drive digital transformation throughout the organization, including areas that have been traditionally outside their purview,” says Chris Bedi, CIO at ServiceNow. ]. “Technology leaders of today must balance creating like-mindedness with the ability to promote, debate, and allow different ideas to flourish while also making clear, quick decisions and creating an environment in which everyone supports those ideas as if they were their own,” Koehler says. As of early 2019, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job openings for CTOs are expected to increase between 2012 and 2022. In 2009, the White House announced the appointment of the country's very first CTO, whose main focus was to use technology to help stimulate job creation, to improve healthcare and security systems, and to increase broadband access. (If you want a refresher on the history of the CSO role, check out this one, at CIO.com: The unique story and evolution of the CSO role.)Â. What is a CIO?What is the role of a CIO?How is the CIO role evolving in 2020?What are key leadership skills for CIOs?What is the difference between a CTO and a CIO?What does a CIO do?Who does a CIO report to?What does a CIO earn? Writing a detailed job description is essential to attracting the right candidate for your job opening. A chief information officer (CIO) previously performed dual roles as CIO and chief technology officer (CTO). “With every company essentially becoming a technology company, the CIO reporting to the CEO makes the most sense, regardless of industry.”. He or she develops policies and procedures and uses technology to enhance products and services that focus on external customers. The role of the title given to the head of the information technology department or function in an organization So, it is worth taking a look at the difference between two related but distinct positions: Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Today he serves as CTO at Equifax: “At Equifax, one of the most exciting aspects of my job is our work to build a culture that embraces new challenges," he says. "I often view myself as the ‘chief disruption officer’ because I think we constantly have to help our teams feel comfortable disrupting themselves, pressurize the culture, change the way we think and the way we interact.”. As digital transformation efforts progress, alongside organizational changes like the ones Adobe’s Stoddard describes, the CIO role continues to evolve. In fact, many CIOs are starting to distance themselves from operational responsibilities. Additionally, the CTO will have a close relationship with the CEO and other members of the company's senior management. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) play a critical role managing internal IT systems and design strategies to ensure that technology adds the maximum value to a company. This type of CTO may envision how technology will be used within the company while setting the technical strategy for the company. While CIOs used to make their careers on cost-efficient and reliable infrastructure, today they make their careers on revenue-generating ideas. Chief Information Technology Officer establishes and directs the strategic long-term goals, policies and procedures for an information technology department. The CIO investigates how the organization can use its technological prowess, speed, and customer service to outperform rivals. The path to becoming a chief technology officer How to follow a career path in the technology industry and become a chief technology officer, the holy grail of tech jobs On average it will take you 24 years from leaving higher education to becoming CTO. • Charged with overseeing the data, security, maintenance and network for a company. In 2009, the White House announced the appointment of the country's very first CTO, which is a position currently held by Michael Kratsios. “We’ve seen a swing back towards IT as decision-makers as digital transformation starts to mature,” says Patrick Heffernan, senior analyst at Technology Business Research. A Chief Technology Officer, simply put, is the person responsible for overseeing technological issues within a corporation or organization. For more details on the pros and cons of the four reporting structures Thistle mentioned above, read also: CIO role: Who should the CIO report to?Â. 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