What should the CIO do for Innovation?

Introduction

       The chief information officer (CIO) is the head of the information technology group within an organization. The CIO normally reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The current trend is for the CIO to be assisted a set of management personnel, because of the expanded role for CIO's in organizations. These personnel include the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for technical aspects of information technology used and needed in the organization; the Chief Risk Officer CRO) for risk management; and the Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) for knowledge management. The prominent and expanded role for the CIO has been the outcome of the dramatic developments in the field of information technology, and the critical importance of information technology in the competitiveness of the business enterprise in these days of globalization and commoditization. This expanded role of the CIO has developed into the CIO being the drive force for innovation in the business enterprise.

Role of the CIO in Innovation in an Organization

       Innovation has become a necessity for business enterprises in the modern day world, for it is only through innovation that the opportunities available can be seized, and growth of the business enterprise assured. It is in this frame of competency of a business enterprise that a CIO takes on the expanded role of being the driving force behind innovation.

       Innovation is about change and as the driving force of change the COI becomes responsible for creating the necessary environment for change in the organization. This means creating a culture for change and removing resistance to change. It is in this aspect that the connection between the CIO and the CEO become important, as the CEO should provide the leadership for change, and the CIO can promote this in the CEO¹.

       To make innovation a part of the manner in which the business enterprise or organization functions the CIO needs to make the working suitable for it. In the first place, this means creating a flexible infrastructure and sufficient access to information. Lack of these, are obstacles to innovation, and hence the role of the CIO should be to target the removal of these obstacles².

       To improve the culture besides identifying resistance to innovation and reduces or eliminating its impact the CIO needs to be the facilitator in creating an environment of collaborative work. That is a more democratic and a more empowering work environment. This means that the CIO needs to ensure that rules of the organization are applicable to all levels of the organization, people at all levels in the organization are given the opportunity to be heard, and the workers in the organization are provided with opportunity to work smarter and not just harder³.

       The catalyst for innovation is technology, particularly so in new product and service development, and in the transformation of the business and operational models. To draw the maximum benefits of the innovation potential there is the requirement for the CIO to integrate technology expertise with business and marketing insights. The installing of mew hardware or making available new application programs does not by itself lead to innovation. Rather it is the pro-active evaluation of new technologies with regard to the needs of business and its markets that is the requirement, followed by the integration of this knowledge into the business strategy development activity that leads to innovation. The CIO aligns the information technology priorities with the business priorities, and implements technology in such a manner as to meet the needs of the changing business requirements. It is through such actions that the CIO ensures that technological change has a significant place in the agenda of the corporate leadership².

       The CIO's need to be the promoters of the development of new governance structures that integrates leadership and information technology leadership to enhance the shared responsibility in the use of information technology across the business activity. This integrated governance approach needs to seep into the very heart of the organizational activity such that they meld together. This will make it possible for the management teams to function more as a unified entity. This role of the CIO in an organization is significant for it is this integrated IT governance paradigm that is the foundation for business model innovation, and ensures that the business model innovation can thrive in the competitive modern world².

       Another emerging role for the CIO is the creation of an amiable context for innovative thinking in the organization. This means that the CIO needs to cultivate an entrepreneurial atmosphere that allows for the merging of business and technology as a natural process².

       Collaboration and partnering are two important facets that are significant to innovation. Understanding this, the CIO needs to instill this in the business organization, for many new ideas come from employees, business partners and customers. Thus external sources can be inspirational for innovation. Collaborative technologies make it possible for organization to bring together skill and scale at levels not seen before. The CIO is the information technology leader, and as such is the leader in the implementation of collaborative technologies, not just within the information technology wing of the organization, but across the full span of the organization. The CIO will have to remove any technology-related elements that inhibit collaboration. It is only then that innovation can be expanded to horizons beyond the walls of the organization to business partners and customers2.

       Business by itself is not a driving force for innovation. It has a significant role to play in driving innovation. There is the need for CIO's to become business partners, and take on an integral role of implementing the strategy and vision of the business enterprise. The CIO's thus become instrumental in establishing the conditions and environment that sparks innovate ideas, and then be the driving force for their execution and capture the dividend of innovation².

Conclusion

       The expanded role of the CIO's in business enterprises make them responsible for quick and proactive action in making innovation an integral part of the business organization to cope with changes that are occurring at a rapid pace in this modern world. The CIO is the best equipped individual in the organization to put in place the innovation strategy of the organization to make the company's innovation promise a reality.

Refrences

1. Rosewell-Jones, Andrew. "When CIO does not mean Career Is Over". 2005. Enterprise INNOVATION. 9 May 2007. visit this site.

2.  "CEO's are expanding the innovation horizon: important implications for CIOs". 2006. IBM Global Technology Services. 9 May 2007. visit this site.

3. Harison-Broninski, Keith. "Human Interactions: The Heart And Soul Of Business Process Management". 2006. BPMInstitute.org. 9 May 2007. visit this site.

 

Done By: Eng. Saleh Alajji

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