An article published by CIO.com about the modern day CIO and the challenges that they face resonated with us for several reasons.\u00a0 First, the talent pool for the position as ascribed in the article differs a bit from years past.\u00a0 Secondly, the characteristics and requirements for this role are shifting and lastly, the expectations for the modern day CIO, by business leaders has evolved prompting a new paradigm for staffing the position.<\/p>\n
The CIO requirements for today\u2019s IT leaders consist of stronger business acumen versus the traditional technical proficiencies required in past years. It\u2019s not good enough to be a guru in technology given the business demands and decisions that CIO\u2019s are responsible for in today\u2019s fluctuating environment.\u00a0 Consider the impact on IT with the new cloud computing offerings that are being introduced into the marketplace.\u00a0 If you believe that most of the sustaining, non strategic work that CIO\u2019s were chartered with managing in past years is now being outsourced then it follows that the skill set would probably demand modification.<\/p>\n
One of the past challenges for CIO\u2019s was always to have a \u201cseat at the table\u201d when it came to impacting business strategy and direction but often could take years to gain the trust of senior management.\u00a0 Things have changed.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s executives are far more tech savvy and don\u2019t require as much hand holding.\u00a0 The technology skill set once required to source CIO\u2019s will continue to shift from traditional technology backgrounds to other management functions.\u00a0 The importance of connecting the advantages of technology to real business problems is now a critical characteristic of the makeup of the modern day CIO.\u00a0 Buying and using technology for the sake of it is a dead thought process in 2011.\u00a0 Connecting the dots between the tools and the value to users is here to stay.<\/p>\n