From Chief Information Officer to Chief Insights Officer: The Evolving CIO Role

As technology and AI are becoming more critical in enabling a business, the role of CIO is getting bigger. As a leader of technology, the voice of CIO is making bigger waves in the organization. Gone are the days when the CIO was only responsible for Information Systems and making sure tools and technology work.

CIOs now have a career-defining opportunity to reach beyond their role and orchestrate the delivery of value-generating capabilities everywhere in the enterprise. The CIO is now viewed as “Business Executive”, “Technology Management Executive,” and “Digital and Risk Executive.”

With the rapid enhancements in technology, cybersecurity threats, and the increasing importance of data-driven decision making, responsibilities of CIOs have grown both in scope and complexity. They not only oversee IT Infrastructure and App Development but also play a critical role in shaping digital strategy and business growth and driving innovation to move the front and bottom line. The CIO has a big job, and it is getting even bigger.

Let’s talk about the future CIO and how the role is evolving.

1. It’s no longer just about ‘keeping the lights on,’ but instead, on understanding the business in the true sense and transforming the business strategy.
2. With that knowledge, CIOs are changing the business using the power of technology.
3. CIOs develop an ecosystem of partners, internal and external, and remain the custodian of data.

CIOs are now providing insights on how the businesses can run, sustain, and grow!

Goals of CIOs:

• Create a Digital Strategy Transformation: Empower the democratization of digital delivery, AI while maintaining the appropriate amount of risk mitigation.
• Shift from cost focus to investment focus: Keep the pulse on changing dynamics and center around the voice of the customer, partnerships, innovation, and changing the language of IT to plain English.

Below are some key components of the role:

• There is no infinite budget; as a matter of fact, every year there is a reduction. Question to ask your team: how can you self-fund? This will change the thinking and will create efficiency and productivity while minimizing waste.
• Voice of Customer. Listen and react! Key to success is being heard. Get your customer’s back! Give them the trust and hope of better technology.
• Think like an executive first! Create partnerships with your peers, team, board, external stakeholders, and customers. Spend time on the ground.
• Language of IT. Develop your team to speak business and in plain English. As much as it seems silly, it is the most important thing.
• Break the Silos. Integrate your business, teams, systems, and physical spaces as much as you can.
• Emerging Tech. Define emerging technologies, including AI, and prioritize use cases that support enterprise objectives.
• Risk and Security. Be aware of security threats and understand the risks. Assess top risks and business outcomes. Direct attention towards cybersecurity risks and mitigation.
• IT Talent Conversation. Move from “order taker” to “true strategist.” Create backups, constantly seek new talent, and invest in upskilling. You will need it. Trust me!
• Financial Advocacy. Run your department as a business. Look at it in terms of growth and not expense. Be a strong voice in board conversations; devise ways to affect investments, revenues, and profits.

And finally, future CIOs can earn the right seat at the right executive tables by developing a strong executive presence based on delivering outcomes, communicating effectively, and building and spending political capital to get things done.

Originally published on LinkedIn, this piece was written by Jigar Shah, Global Head of IT, Identity, Access & Application at Tenet Healthcare.