Digital transformation and data, excuse me, big data, are changing every aspect of the world. In this program, we often discuss how digital transformation is changing the marketing world. More specifically, how the role of the CMO is evolving. We even discuss how the CMO must learn how to collaborate and understand the CIO. Yet, we rarely discuss how the role of the CIO is changing.
The lines between business and technology are becoming more blurred every day. To combat with new business models, CIOs are becoming strategic in their thinking. They are no longer just concerned with IT issues. Wilczeck (2017) states that “a whole new range of tasks is being put onto the CIO’s shoulders, requiring additional capabilities and demanding much greater emphasis on areas such as innovation or crafting and orchestrating digital ecosystems”. CIOs are strategically identifying opportunities to redefine both the customer and employee experience. The role of this person is no longer supporting the business with IT efforts, but implementing strategies and technologies to constantly disrupt and create new value and meet business demand. The new and improved CIO must work closely with the CMO to help identify new digital marketing trends. Bill Allison believes that the new CIO must be:
- A Strategist
- A Catalyst
- A technologist
- An Operator
- Always Looking Towards the Future
Indeed the role of the CIO may seem so different than it has in the past, that it may seem like it is going away, but it is not facing extinction. In fact, Bendor-Samuel (2019) argues that changing business landscape is only strengthening the role. The CIO has to remain agile and embrace transformational technologies all while balancing the connection and collaboration with others.
As digital operating models continue to reshape the world, I wonder what new C-suite roles will emerge.
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