Who is the CIO, this pillar of corporate strategy?
The CIO is playing an increasingly key role within companies. This is all the more true now that the digital transformation of organisations has become an essential growth driver.
But who exactly is this chief information officer? What range of tasks does he or she have, and how far do his or her responsibilities extend? And above all, in what way is he or she a pillar on which company management can rely to develop a strategy focused on team performance?
Let's take a look at the CIO's profile, using a detailed job description and a toolkit to help both future CIOs and recruiters to get to grips with this multi-faceted profession.
What is a CIO/CIO?
Definition of DSI/CIO
DSI is the acronym for director of information systems, but also for information systems director.
We also come across this profession under other names:
- IT Director, or DI,
- Director of Organisation and Information Systems, or DOSI,
- Information Systems and Digital Director, or DSIN,
- director of information systems and telecommunications,
- business information officer.
DSI in English?
Today, this position is increasingly referred to as chief information officer, or CIO.
Role of the CIO in a company
The CIO is in charge of the company's information system, i.e. all the hardware and software resources needed to transmit information:
- computers
- software
- the Internet network
- servers
- storage systems
- printing equipment,
- telecommunications systems, etc.
CIO/CIO responsibilities
But over the years, the CIO/CIO has moved away from purely technical tasks and taken on more and more responsibilities. Let's take a look at some of them.
☑️ The chief information officer is responsible for defining an information systems policy that is consistent with both :
- the company's strategy and growth objectives,
- with more global business, social and technological challenges.
In short, the CIO ensures that all the company's staff and partners can work in conditions that guarantee optimum performance and productivity.
☑️ As a result, the CIO/CIO is responsible for issues relating to innovation and digital transformation, which involves constantly monitoring technological developments.
☑️ Finally, it should be noted that the Chief Information Officer is often high up on the company's organisation chart, and may even be a member of senior management. As such, he or she acts as manager of the company's IT teams, and also oversees activities with any external service providers.
The CIO/CIO job description
Detailed tasks of the CIO
☑️ Strategic management of the company's information system, which involves :
- auditing the information system
- choosing the technologies to be used
- organising the deployment of these technologies
- managing the maintenance of IT services,
- monitoring technological and legal developments,
- anticipating the company's needs in relation to future market challenges.
☑️ Assessing issues relating to risks, IT security and data security.
☑️ Defining and managing budgets relating to the performance of information systems.
☑️ Reporting on the various activities to management.
☑️ Advising and raising management awareness of the challenges of optimising IT resources.
☑️ Collecting and analysing the IT needs of the company's various stakeholders.
☑️ Recruiting and managing IT teams.
☑️ Defining and steering a support strategy for the company's various stakeholders in terms of IT usage.
☑️ Strategic, operational and budgetary management of service providers and subcontractors.
☝️Le The CIO position represents a significant cost for companies, particularly smaller ones. As a result, some companies call on the services of an IT Director on a timeshare basis. In most cases, the CIO works alone in carrying out the tasks assigned to him or her.
How do you become an IS/CIO?
There are several routes to a career as CIO/CIO. As a general rule, however, there are two types of training that lead to this position:
- 5 years' higher education in engineering,
- 5 years' higher education in IT.
☝️ Note that it is rare to find junior CIOs. In fact, this job requires a certain number of years' experience (around 10 years), particularly in IT department management.
What skills does a CIO have?
- expertise in information systems,
- managerial skills
- technology culture,
- project management
- budget management,
- mastery of security and legal standards,
- knowledge of the main computer languages and operating systems,
- technical English.
What are the qualities of a CIO?
- organisation and rigour
- leadership skills
- communication and interpersonal skills
- ability to think ahead,
- teaching skills
- curiosity.
How is the position of CIO changing?
While the role of the Chief Information Officer has long been predominantly technical, this professional is increasingly involved in setting the company's overall strategy. That's why they often sit alongside senior management.
The result? The CIO/CIO job is often seen as the culmination of a career in IT.
What does a CIO/CIO earn?
The salary of a CIO/CIO varies according to their level of experience and the type of organisation in which they work. As a general rule, however, the salaries are as follows:
- for a junior profile 👉 around 70K euros per year,
- for a senior profile 👉 around 120K euros per year,
- for an expert 👉 around 180K euros per year.
The CIO's toolbox
Because of their central role in the organisation of the company, CIOs have to work with a wide range of tools.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the software that will help the CIO to succeed in his or her role.
Project management software
🛠️ Trello or Project Online.
IT service management software, or ITSM
🛠️ LANDesk or Octopus-ITSM.
IT security software
🛠️ Deep Security or Splunk Enterprise Security.
Network supervision software
🛠️ Centreon MAP or Pandora FMS.
Future challenges for CIOs
The CIO/CIO is a key profile for today's businesses, particularly those focused on innovation. By creating value and improving technical, and therefore human, performance, they are making a real contribution to the growth of organisations.
However, the world of IT is constantly evolving, and new challenges are emerging. Big Data, mobile usage, cloud computing, green IT, RGPD... these are the current challenges.
So companies can no longer deny the need to optimise their information systems, and to get all their teams on board for the change thanks to the chief information officer.
Article translated from French