Taking the helm - the role of the modern CIO

With digital technologies continuing the assault on the enterprise, CEOs require a partner on the C-suite that can combine technology expertise with business skills to successfully navigate the change. CIOs now play a pivotal role in making the company successful and driving the use of new technologies in a way that adds value to the entire business.

The days of CIOs managing the day-to-day processes of transactional systems that record everything but provide the business with little operational value are gone. Consumer technology has worked its way into the enterprise, which means that today’s CIOs are managing on-premise systems and infrastructure, as well as cloud-based systems. In addition, they are dealing with structured data coming from sources such as spreadsheets and databases, alongside unstructured data being generated from channels such as email and social media. Ultimately, it translates into juggling the consumer-grade offerings often favoured by users, while still applying the enterprise-grade security required by customers, regulators and shareholders.

Increasingly, CIOs are assuming more responsibility for massive volumes of enterprise information and the systems that house the data. However, with this responsibility comes the daily challenge of data governance, information security and authenticated access. As such, today’s CIOs are responsible for keeping information processes simple yet secure and compliant around the clock - and at the same time having to unlock the unrealised business potential that IT can enable.

It is unsurprising, therefore, that research from analyst firm IDG shows that, according to 140 technology leaders, an enterprise information management strategy should be a top priority for CIOs and IT business executives.

However, while the role of information management is undeniably paramount, many CIOs are still struggling to know where to start. Digital technologies stretch across every facet of a business, and organisations have rapidly growing amounts of information to deal with on a day-to-day basis. At the same time, it is now even more crucial that people within the business have quick and secure access to the information available, whenever it is needed. To solve this challenge, CIOs must combine information management platforms with digital governance frameworks to secure the flow of information throughout the business but also provide a platform for digital transformation.

The role of the CIO has not only changed significantly, it is continuing to evolve. It is now centred around embracing disruptive technologies to truly deliver on the operational excellence and business enablement that new technology affords. The next 10 years are shaping up to be just as disruptive as the last, and even 2015 looks set to really feel the big impact from disruptive technologies such as wearables.

This is where the transformational CIO has an opportunity to take the helm and really lead the way. CIOs that adopt this approach will be able to develop IT infrastructures that improve the quality of products and services provided, while simultaneously driving efficiencies and cost reductions.

*David Jamieson joined OpenText as CIO in November 2014, bringing over 25 years of experience in leading IT organisations. Prior to joining OpenText, he worked at Barrick Gold Corporation as Director of IT and VP of Information Management and Technology, and has held senior positions at Universal Studios Canada, EDS/SHL Systemhouse and Canadian Pacific Railway.