Discuss the Evolving Role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)

As times have changed so has the role of CIO. The term Chief Information Officer was first used in the 1970’s. Their role was mainly looking after the introduction of new financial systems. These systems were used for invoicing and control of debit and creditors and controlling how the supply chain worked and others areas such as payroll. These systems were complex and the CIO’s spent most of their day getting the systems to work, keeping them working and reducing the costs of the organisation
In the 1980’s the CIO’s job involved overseeing the incorporation and upkeep of somewhat simple but difficult and expensive hardware, software and telecommunications equipment. As organisation started to invest in IT as a strategic option the CIO became a manager instead of just a member of staff. Also toward the end of the 1980’s the personal PC was replacing older forms of technology in the office. As IT grew so did the department and the employing of people who were technologically switched on in a business which generally wasn’t. It was now the CIO’s job to overview IT instead of doing e...