IT Job Description CIO Role Changing

The CIO now faces new challenges - no longer just a technologist now a business partner

IT Job Description CIO Role Changing - The role of the CIO and CTO is changing as more enterprises more towards a "Value Added" role for the Information Technology function (see detail IT job descriptions that have been created for all of the functions with IT -- especially for the CIO and CTO).

The job of overseeing technology at corporations is changing as fast as the technology itself. No longer is the chief information officer the “nerd-in-chief,” merely chasing after viruses and ordering new mouse pads. Now the CIO is finding ways to utilize hardware and software for strategic business purposes, such as discerning market opportunities and improving customer service. The high-tech tools of choice can include sophisticated data mining like social networking, and enhancements to the company website.

In today's environment the CIO has to look at the enterprise and be able to apply technology as a strategic weapon. The technologies that the CIO must understand and apply are:

CIO IT Job Description Strategic Implications

Type of technology strategic implications

The implications of this are that the CIO has a unique window into the entire company, because all data flows through that department. Now, as never before, data can be a strategic weapon for discerning new market opportunities. In addition Employees and customers expect sophisticated mobile and social networking capabilities.

As the CIO job expands so dramatically, a key question for the chief executive is whether the geek who feels comfortable only with a keyboard can handle all these responsibilities. Today, the CIO may be working directly with board members and marketing. He or she now has to undertake customer-service, marketing, and new-product analysis. This can require “people” and analytic skills in addition to advanced e-knowledge. CIOs are called upon to think like business people.

As a result the traditional role of the CIO has changed. Now the CIO must focus on the value added aspects of the function.