Dive Brief:
- The CIO and CEO are the "most aligned" C-suite members on a company's technology strategy, according to an Apptio survey of 555 global C-suite across nine industries. The CIO and CFO are the least aligned.
- Almost two-thirds of leaders want their IT organization to adopt better "influencing skills" in order to "deliver change," according to the report. More than 40% of companies struggle with finding IT talent with an adequate blend of technical and soft skills.
- For 65% of U.S. leaders, technology strategies regularly evolve based on insights from businesses and customers. Companies are prioritizing automating tasks, followed by real-time data management, and an investment roadmap for new technologies.
Dive Insight:
Tech leaders have to listen to what their business is asking for, which allows CIOs to experiment with disruptive technologies.
At the same time, IT organizations have to be the "evangelists" of a company, able to advocate for technology's role in the enterprise, according to Apptio.
The "always on" mantra companies are quick to adopt in the modern age of business operations has reinforced the pressure for CIOs to communicate with non-technical employees.
Digital transformation is the top strategic priority for all C-suite members, even though the majority, 74%, of CIOs say they cannot keep pace with the constant demands of customers and their business, according to a Dynatrace survey.
The role of the CIO has evolved into "CEO of a tech company," effectively becoming a tech and business leader. And tech leaders want more business responsibility.
