The Role And Changing Roles Of A Chief Information Officer (CIO)

The Role and changing roles of a Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Introduction
The Chief Information Officer, or the CIO, is the IT department’s principal manager for an organisation. Outsourcing is the process of purchasing a good or service from an outside vendor that could have been provided internally .(Kroenke & Hooper, 2013). As the availability of readymade IT packages increases, it is evolving the role of the CIO to organisations. (Gefen, Ragowsky, Licker & Stern, 2011). It is important for organisations to understand what the role of a CIO is to know what to expect from their CIO’s, and how this role may change due in an outsourcing environment.
The Role of the CIO
(Peppard, Edwards & Lambert, 2011) discusses that a CIO can take on five different roles within an organisation.
Utility IT Director
The Utility IT Director is an operationally and technology focused executive whose role is to provide an organisation with IT infrastructure, systems, data, telecommunications capability, as well as providing low cost IT services. This executive typically reports to the organisation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). (Peppard, Edwards & Lambert, 2011).
Evangelist CIO
The Evangelist CIO’s role within the organisation is to raise the profile of information. The CIO will attempt to educate others within the organisation that information has the potential to be a good business driver, this is done by providing exciting future visions, and by demonstrating this potential through pilots. The role also includes IT operational aspects. (Peppard, Edwards & Lambert, 2011).
Facilitator CIO
The Facilitator CIO’s role is to ensure that every part of the organisation has information skills and capabilities apparent. Their objective is to make su...

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...example, we can see how outsourcing has required Goerke to become more involved in the business as an integrator to meet its needs, this was done by using his knowledge of IT to develop business opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are 5 different roles that a CIO can take on within an organisation. They can take on a Utility IT Director, Innovator CIO, Agility IT Director/CIO, Evangelist CIO, or a Facilitator CIO role. The transition into the outsourcing environment has impacted the role of the CIO as they become the business integrator, using their IT knowledge to meet the business objectives, they become more collaborative, and their project team increases to the many service providers found in the supply chain. Therefore, organisations should understand the change in the CIO’s role due to outsourcing and guide the CIO through making this transition.