Topics of Conversation: The New Agenda for the CIO

Over the years, the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has evolved from one of being a Functional Head to a Strategic Partner to today’s demands for that of a Business Integrator and Innovator. Many CEOs now expect their CIOs not just to specify and manage the IT infrastructure but to drive the transformation agenda. However, what our research is indicting is that CIOs are struggling with this new reality. Our data suggests that while many say they are strategic they actually behave tactically; many lack credibility as strategic decision-makers; many have not developed relationships with appropriate parts of the organisation or key stakeholders; and, crucially, many lack the leadership to drive their organisations forward in the use of technology. Yet some CIOs do seem to be having a real business impact. This article will examine our recent research that has studied these, what we have labelled, Hi-Impact CIOs. It will identify their core characteristics and highlight what distinguishes them from CIOs that are not seen by their peers in the business as being up to today’s challenges. Our data strongly suggests that Hi-Impact CIOs are shifting the focus of their conversations with their business colleagues along 8 critical dimensions, which, when combined, have a profound impact on the contribution of IT to business performance. These dimensions, which point towards a new agenda for the CIO, are examined and the implication of these shifts developed.