Challenges of a CIO/CTO

Quite a number of companies around the world, especially IT organizations have positions of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Although there is a huge difference in their responsibilities, for most organizations, these officers work simultaneously to achieve the IT goals of the business. The two officers are responsible for creating dynamic technological products through different skill sets and ensuring those products acceptance by both the internal and external users. Due to the similarities in their responsibilities, most small companies do not see the essence of having both positions and thus they prefer an officer serving both roles.

 Source:www.martincomputersolutions.com

Who is a Chief Information Officer (CIO)?                                        

A CIO is an officer whose basic focus is on improving and enhancing the efficiency and delivery of internal activities or processes for providing quality services to the clients. The officer is responsible for providing the extensibility and dexterity needed by a business for competent operations and also to identify the best areas to invest in the business entity. The CIO is also focused on policy making and upkeep of operations in the internal system. Moreover, he supervises the staff, activities and technological processes within the IT unit of the company to ensure adequate and quality delivery of outcomes that align with the goals of the business. A CIO is charged with basic leadership functions related to crucial technical, management and strategic drives involved in providing security, sets of rules to solve problems in the processes and satisfactory customer experience. These also involve the power to influence data for the purpose of alleviating threats in order to boost business growth. Succinctly, a CIO is an executive of a company with the operational functionality of management, discharge and utilization of information and computer technologies coupled with analysis of how these technologies are advantageous to the company and its business process.

The basic roles of a CIO include the following:

•  *  Controls the organization’s internal IT processes
• *  Works to align the business goals with the technological services provided
• *  Focuses on the internal consumers (IT units and users within the organization)
• * Partner and manages vendors that supply the needed IT infrastructure to the organization Designs and implements strategies aimed at generating profits for the company
• * Ensures security and availability of authentic information Project management
• *Capital planning and utilization
• * Technology assessment

 Source:www.drjeffdaniels.com

As technology is evolving day by day, the CIO is faced with a series of challenges for justifying his position and validating the company’s investment. These challenges include:

·      The CIO has to be a skilled and highly organized manager with swift coordination to excel in the position

·      Sourcing for new opportunities and ideas that can be incorporated into the business to boost its growth

·      The position requires vast knowledge on the operations of the company; hence, a CIO must employ the needed skills and staff to achieve the goals

·      The CIO must get updates on technology trends for the organization to be well-grounded in the competitive market

·      Staff management and retention

·      Ability to cope with massive influx of data arising from the rapid growth and change in the IT trends

·      Integration of data from both cloud and in-house systems to ensure unlimited data access.

·      The CIO needs to have skills to cope with the super speed of technology evolution happening at all times

·      Encouraging flexibility of access to services by enabling mobile workforce while actively securing data

·      The CIO must provide cost-effective services, techniques and resources

·      Ultimately, he must be involved in securing the business data by preventing cyber-attacks with an efficient early detection and swift response system

Who is a Chief Technology Officer (CTO)?

The CTO is a company’s executive who oversees the provision and execution of current technology in line with the company’s aim and vision. A CTO is responsible for evaluating the short-and long-term objectives and requirements of an organization and invests in the management of research and development of technological resources. In order to enhance the quality of products and services provided to the external customers, the CTO develops and implements policies, strategies and procedures that improve the technology and thus benefit the business.  It is also the responsibility of the CTO to establish processes that will boost revenue and reduce costs. In summary, the CTO is responsible for provision and management of technologies that boost the business externally.

The following roles are performed by a CTO in any organization no matter how big or small it is:

• *Functions actively as the organization’s technology planner
• * Enhances the company’s revenue with technological products
• * Focuses on the delivery of satisfactory services to external customers
• * Aligns the company’s technological plan with the business objectives
• * Implements tools for use by employees
• * Monitors technology trends and standards
• *Conducts thorough research
• * Maintains compliance to regulations

Source: www.govloop.com

Challenges faced by the CTO include:

• ·     Coordinating with other units of the organization, especially the engineering and marketing departments for making a long-term strategy
• ·      Taking pragmatic decisions even when faced with strong oppositions on the implementation of a strategy
• ·      Managing the business and technical affairs
• ·      The fear of sabotage or failure of an implemented policy
• ·   Hiring required talents and retaining existing employees by creating an internal culture that encourages smooth working to strengthen the technical team
• ·    Maintaining a platform that promises reliance and efficient services to the external customers
• ·    Preparing cost-effective plans that meet with the budget of the company and also satisfy the needs of the external customers
• ·      Ensuring the safety of existing data
• ·    Ensuring the quality of products provided to the customers because if the products produced do not meet the requirements of the customers, it is a total failure.

The most common challenges faced by both CIO and CTO positions are security of data, cloud computing, retainment of staff, cost-consolidation, massive influx of data and infrastructure. Conclusively, it is very important that a symbiotic relationship exists between both these professionals in order to maximize the company’s revenue and profits.

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