Telecom & Technology Consulting
As technology evolves, so does the world of commerce. And as business evolves, so does the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). People with that executive-level job title used to be, for the most part, in charge of a team of order-takers. Install a network, provide more laptops, onboard new employees with email addresses. Those sort of tactical to-dos.
But the “information” aspect of the CIO role has run its course. CIOs are now full-time strategists who can influence a company’s success as much as a marketing or sales leader – even as much as the CEO. This may be stating the obvious to many of us. But not to all of us.
The truth is that, despite today’s tech-dominated business landscape, many in the C-Suite (and even employees) have an archaic perception of the IT department’s function. It’s a perception that can hinder an organization’s success and even competitive advantage.
This is why CIOs must perform a repositioning of their responsibilities, not just within the IT department, but also within the organization. By shedding light on the true value they provide, and how their work directly affects profits, CIOs can wash away the outdated belief that IT is merely a cost of doing business.
In practice, that means showing how IT helps to build products, improves customer experiences, and partners with sales and marketing to provide crucial data. It means displaying how machine learning and AI capabilities are key tools for growth. It means showing how automating workflows improves efficiency, which positively impacts the bottom line.
While these results are not necessarily new, clarifying the real significance of IT’s role is critical when re-positioning how people view that department. And when you expand the perception, other leaders will become more enthusiastic about supporting the CIO. After all, every department benefits from the fruits of IT’s labor.
To successfully reposition IT, the CIO must clearly and confidently communicate across the organization. Doing so allows everyone to understand IT’s mission, which in turn increases buy-in. They’re able to see that IT’s primary responsibility isn’t about technology or innovation – they recognize how the department’s work specifically applies to their jobs and helps them succeed.
CIOs seeking to reposition their role should begin this (for lack of a better term) “campaign” by meeting with key stakeholders, department leaders, and employees who generally advocate for technology. The agenda should include an honest discussion of where IT needs to improve, as well as what capabilities the organization requires to achieve its mission.
In this way, tech leaders can display what they “really” do, as well as their true areas of focus, in a “show, don’t tell” manner. They are expressing, “This is where we provide value to the organization and how that impacts you personally and professionally. This is how we solve problems that foster the company’s strategic goals.”
But CIOs have to do more than shift perception outside the department. They must also transform how staff perceives their work. The reality is that IT workers can be so caught up in the details of their jobs that they’re not always – or ever – aware of their importance to the organization. They may not realize, for example, how a specific implementation or innovation can make or break the business.
CIOs would be wise to remind their staffs that they must think of their roles beyond coding, resolving incidents, or performing other basic technology tasks. They must go deeper and realize that they’re actually key in resolving customer, business, and employee needs, and always view their work through that lens. With that new mindset, IT employees will no longer see themselves as order-takers and start realizing that they’re business strategists.
Repositioning IT in general, and the CIO role specifically may seem like a monumental effort. Take it one step at a time. Don’t feel overwhelmed. Be specific on how IT foster’s the company’s mission. When you do that consistently, perception will easily change.
