The profile of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) is not new. Pulling the thread, its precedents go back to the times of the development of the first computers, back in the 50s of the last century. However, in this age of technological disruption the role of this type of specialists has become crucial. In addition, it has diversified to respond to the needs of organizations in the era of Artificial Intelligence, big data and machine learning - to name a few of the best-known modernization trends.
If you want to boost your career in the computer field, working as a CIO represents one of the most challenging, creative and comprehensive challenges you can find. As you gain experience, you can reach high levels of recognition inside and outside your company.
Do you want to know better the challenges and functions of the CIO in 2020? Stay with BETWEEN and we'll tell you everything!
What is a Chief Information Officer (CIO)?
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Director of Information Systems is the business command in charge of guaranteeing the correct functioning of technological equipment within the organization, as well as investigating, proposing and implementing solutions that help optimize internal processes. and, consequently, to achieve business objectives.
Normally, when we talk about systems manager, the image of the boy or girl comes to mind for everything that fixes a broken computer or installs programs. Let's banish it now: the CIO sits at the company committee meetings at the highest level, with the rest of the C-suite (CEO, financial management, etc.), highlighting its strategic role above of its operational dimension.
Functions of the CIO
The main functions of the CIO include:
- Organize the company's technological resources in order to maximize its performance.
- Coordinate professionals from the Systems and Development areas.
- Prepare annual and multi-year strategic plans that define the needs in technological matters, advising what investments to make based on your ROI.
- Prepare, present and monitor the approved budget for IT.
- Establish protocols and good practices in the use of IT equipment.
- Evaluate the service offers of external providers and lead the negotiation and communication with them.
- Stay up to date about new tools and processes and consider incorporating them into the organization.
- Implement cybersecurity measures that guarantee the adequate protection of sensitive company data.
- In the most traditional settings, suggest ways of digital transformation, evangelizing management and staff and accompanying them on the path of innovation.
What's the difference between a CIO and a CTO?
Sometimes the responsibilities of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and those of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) are confused. However, the distinction is simpler than it might seem. The most outstanding difference between a CIO and a CTO is that the first deals with the organization's technological infrastructure internally, while the second focuses on the development of solutions that improve the product or service facing the outside. In other words, the CIO aims to simplify the work performance of the workforce and make it more efficient; the CTO, by contrast, seeks the satisfaction of the end customer.
The figure of the CIO and that of the CTO may start from a similar academic background, but their professional career acquires a completely opposite orientation as they gain experience.
What training and skills are needed to work as Chief Information Officer (CIO)?
Companies demand applications with a very specific cocktail that combines academic background, a solid career and certain personal skills. Let's review the ingredients of this successful mix in more detail to apply for a Chief Information Officer position:
What education should a CIO have?
The Observatory of Ocupations of the State Public Employement Service (SEPE) reveals that the majority of job offers for positions assimilable to the Director of ICT Services prefer graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering or a Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Engineering. The SEPE also considers profiles related to the graduates of the degrees and masters of Development and Analysis of Applications and Software, and of Information and Communication Technologies; as well as the Master in Design and Administration of Databases and Networks.
In addition, employers place great value on two other requirements related to the education of the future CIO:
- English level, since it is usually a position with international projection.
- Certifications that enable to lead projects with agile methodologies, such as SCRUM or ITIL.
Finally, it is not essential, but it is recommended, to have an MBA. Let's not forget that the CIO is going to work closely with the company's managers.
What skills and experience is needed to become a CIO?
The ideal professional experience of a CIO should be considered as a mix between coordination of resources and technological projects and team management. The usual thing is to find offers that request the applicant between three and five years of experience; although some raise this figure to 10, according to SEPE.
To this we must add the so-called soft skills, which in the case of the CIOs are specified in:
- Autonomy
- Leadership
- Strategic vision
- Initiative
- Mutitasking skills
- Didactic capacity
- Creativity
- Empathy
CIO challenges in the next decade
The expansion of Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data or cloud data storage have added complexity to the tasks that CIOs in the next decade will have to take on. The 20/20 vision for the 2020 CIO report from the IBM Institute for Business Value points out that, from this same year, the I of this professional profile should not limit its scope to the term "information", but should be extended to others such as "innovation", "social interaction", "investment or" ideation ".
This diversification of competencies is due to the fact that CIOs will have to be in charge of:
- Restructure the technological architecture of the company to adapt it to the new paradigms of digitization.
- Advise on the advantages of As a Service models in the incorporation of technological advances, which are not based on the purchase of a product or a service with closed conditions, but rather on a pay-per-use basis.
- Adopt continuously evolving open source software solutions to respond to the changing needs of the organization.
- Renew legacy systems, legacy applications that, in many cases, are hampering the company's competitive advance.
- Analyze ways to collect relevant data, exploit it, anticipate possible future scenarios and transform it into knowledge that facilitates strategic decision-making.
In order to prepare to overcome these new challenges, SEPE, in its prospecting and training needs detection reports, suggests CIOs to acquire competencies in IT and communication security management, technology infrastructure management, data analysis, AI and robotics, big data, virtualization, cloud computing, digital marketing and blockchain, among other disciplines.
How to develop your professional career as a CIO?
The longest path begins with one step, says an ancient Chinese proverb attributed to the philosopher Lao Tzu. The CIO's starts with a solid university education and then builds on experience, especially in project management and in resource, risk and crisis management.
If your dream is to work as a CIO, at BETWEEN we recommend that you accumulate a work resume of around 10 years as a member of development or IT teams. Learn from every opportunity and, little by little, you will get the background required to become Chief Information Officer.
Demand for Chief Information Officers in the labor market
The role of the CIO is tremendously valued within the job market. Working in this position brings good working conditions, stability and a competitive salary.
predicts that employment for IT and IT managers will grow by 11% in this country between 2018 and 2028, well above the average for other occupations. The BLS blames this trend on the increased proliferation of cyber threats, which will force businesses of all kinds to reinforce their computer security mechanisms, especially within sectors such as retail.
In Spain, SEPE also notes a positive evolution in CIO demand. 82% of the contracts registered with Social Security for this figure are permanent, and 92% full-time. The age range that is the protagonist in the hiring of Chief Information Officers is from 35 to 44 years old, which highlights, once again, the importance of experience in the selection of this professional specialty.
Would you like to take a further step in your career in the field of computing? At BETWEEN we provide you with dozens of specialized technology jobs, including specific CIO positions, where you can take on new challenges and continue learning. Come to BETWEEN, we have the opportunity for change that you are looking for!
