The CIO’s Changing Priorities: Part 2

In last week's blog I explained that the recent CIO Survey 2016 published by Harvey Nash & KPMG has described how the role of the CIO is changing for the better. Yet with more CIOs becoming board members, the impact of projects failing on their watch has never been more of a risk.

There is also growing awareness of a skills shortage in Security and Resiliency. 41% of CIO’s define Big Data, along with the increased probability of a Cyber-attack, as a critical priority for them. Taking preventative action to help protect targeted threats while minimising the disruption to the business is imperative. Removing the cyber threat entirely is not possible, however, understanding your exposure, implementing sound recovery practices will minimise negative impacts. Ensure you take this area seriously as a growing priority. Don’t let this peril put the company and, just as importantly, your role at major risk.

Better Engagement

For me, the most significant statistic in the report is the 15% increase since 2013 in the CIO’s engagement with the customer. Really understanding both your internal and external customers’ needs is the most important aspect in creating the additional value required from IT. This is an area I positively encourage in all Fifth Step engagements and something that I see lacking in many organisations - bringing IT and the business/customer together is the pointer to success.

Moving away from a ‘he who shouts loudest’ prioritisation to a more benefits-led portfolio management approach will ensure that the CIO has support of the Executive team on the priorities which empowers talent to focus on the right things. Failing to adopt this approach will result in a continued perception of ‘failure’

Delivery Focused

CIO’s continue to be faced with challenges in shortfalls of the skills required for them to be really delivery focused and maintain the pace of change the business desires. Having access to the best talent is therefore the best solution. Strong leadership for project delivery is an absolute must. Ensuring that there is clarity around the defined benefits and a real focus on the timely delivery of these benefits demands a culture that is created top down.