Transcript 490 Lecture 1 Introduction

CIO*/IT Mgr Roles
* CIO – career is over
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CIO/IT Mgr Roles: Why should
you care?

You may be one some day, so its always good to
be prepared. Yeah, right.

CIOs (regardless of what title is used) will likely
impact your success or failure

Understanding their job will likely help you be
more successful at yours.
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The evolving CIO/IT Mgr Roles

Mainframe era: Technology guru and IT
production manager

Distributed and Internet Eras – every pundit has
a list.

Several samples follow.
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Sample 1. CIO/IT Mgr Roles
(Synott 1985)

Manage information resources as vital corporate
asset.

Bring systems into the competitive marketplace.

Manage and coordinate increasingly decentralized
information resources.

Manage end-user computing so it servers
corporate needs.

Be a catalyst for corporate change.
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Sample 2. CIO/IT Mgr Roles

Monitor capabilities of all major organizational
technologies.

Monitor company’s industry dynamics.

Understand company business model.

Gain/maintain high level understanding of
company operations.

Serve as exec committee’s technology
consultant.

Manage relationships throughout the company.

Establish IS direction and purpose.

Motivate IS workforce.
(Lewis 1999)
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Sample 3. CIO/IT Mgr Roles
(Luftman 2004)

(IT) Organizational designer. Select and
implement appropriate IT organizational
structure

Strategic partner. Business/technology
consultant, identifying how IT can best service
business needs

Technology architect. Designing appropriate IT
infrastructure for supporting the organization’s
strategic needs

Informed buyer. Hardware, software, networks,
and other services
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CIO/IT Mgr Roles

Think about reading assignments and early IT
mgr roles with respect to the three samples: Is
anything missing?
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CIO Tips
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(Luftman 2004)
Get a seat at the table.
Regular one on ones with CEO.
Create a partnership with peers.
Study the corporate culture.
Understand the business model.
Define current commitments.
Establish credibility.
Listen (as well as talk).
Take inventory (people, technology, services).
Assess people
Understand outsourcing value and threat.
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CIO/IT Mgr Roles: Implications
for you

How effective is your CIO?

How is IT perceived within the organization?

What is your role?

Where or how does your role contribute to the
CIO’s success?
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