As a CIO, do you envision yourself as an innovation leader? Your CEO may think so.
CIO magazine recently published the results of a Gartner study that showed the responsibility of digital innovation falling on the shoulders of the CIO. Gartner questioned 410 senior business executives at the end of 2013 to discover their thoughts on who assumes responsibility of digital leadership at their companies. Most of the respondents said that they think the CIO is critical in this role at their organization, although other executives absorb some of the responsibility.
“Digital is strongly associated with innovation, in front of and for the customer,” Gartner fellow and vice president Mark Raskino told the news source. “Two years ago our 2012 CIO survey found CIOs were low on the list of perceived innovation leaders. Over the last decade, CIOs and the IT function in general have often been tasked as IT cost managers and service quality assurers, but not as strong innovators or business strategy contributors.”
Approximately 14 percent of respondents claimed that the responsibilities of digital leadership fall on C-suite members in addition to the CIO.
As time goes on, it will be essential for CIOs to rise up to expectations. This can be done through several means, and educating other executives and company employees on technology trends is essential.
Chief Influence Officers
Have you ever heard of the phrase “Chief Influence Officer”? This is informally applied to the acronym CIO on occasion, but there is some truth behind it. CIOs need to be influential in order to fulfill expectations and make an impact on their companies.
This is often easier said than done, but maintaining relationships with influential people can help you reach your goals as a CIO. For instance, keeping tight connections with C-suite employees can make sure that your voice is being heard, as well as any decisions you’re making in regards to technology.
Being resilient in the face of adversity is also a big part of finding success as a CIO. This means taking feedback from your colleagues into consideration, but carving your own path in an attempt to bring innovative ideas to your company.
There is a combination of ingredients that goes into an effective, efficient CIO. It may take you some time to piece them together, but doing so can help you sustain your reputation in the eyes of executives.
