CIOs in the Public Sector: The Gap Between Theory and Literature

This paper highlights the role of the Chief Investigation Officer (CIO) in the public sector. With an increased application of Information Technology to manage government processes and to deliver services to citizens the CIO position has become a significant consideration for this sector. However, due to the unique demands of the public sector, as distinct from the private sector, the role of the CIO is often understated. The paper includes a review of literature on CIO roles which are largely from the private sector and examines it under the criteria of personal and professional characteristics, responsibilities and future. From an exploratory study accomplished via direct observations, this paper discusses the role of the CIOs in the public sector as perceived by those holding the position. It Lawry, Waddell and Singh CIO’s In The Public Sector: The Gap Between Theory And Reality 2 highlights the additional responsibilities a CIO in the public sector is expected to undertake. The discussion in this paper includes the impact on CIO roles of the context in which they operate.