CIO: how the information director can guide company innovation

For some time, the so-called CIO (Chief Information Officer) has become an increasingly popular topic of discussion. A kind of manager reporting directly to the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), he or she has the task of moving forward initiatives designed to:

• Stimulate innovation;
• Modernise the IT department;
• Make the company secure;
• Encourage customer base centralisation;
• Guarantee cutting edge strategies and solutions;
• And work towards a re-engineering of processes.

Over time, the role of the CIO has been transformed, acquiring a more transversal function, combining creativity, IT and business. Today, the CIO is a source of inspiration to innovate, capable of dealing with the transformations resulting from the company’s introduction of digital technology.

Duties of the chief information officer

At a practical level, the person responsible for information technology is also a technology strategist, planning innovative strategies which allow procedures to be optimised and business operations to become as efficient as possible.

In his role as a business leader, the chief information officer handles the digital transformation, while adopting innovative, dynamic solutions which are increasingly interlinked with the company’s needs.

This professional figure, who is also a talent manager, stimulates innovation via the creation of an efficient working environment and is able to attract skilled workers (in this specific case the manager’s main purpose is to identify and develop workers’ latent abilities to the company’s advantage).

In addition to the above-mentioned tasks, the CIO must find the best strategy to improve client relations, by streamlining production according to their requirements:  in this way, supply and demand will become more compatible.

The unification of all these activities allows the chief information officer to simplify organisational areas, thereby creating a more innovative professional environment and a more fulfilling customer experience.

The role of the information director in Industry 4.0

Considering the points outlined above, it is fair to surmise that the information director will be extremely important in the future, especially in businesses using operational methods based on those of the fourth industrial revolution.

Following the Industry 4.0 model involves significant upgrades in terms of equipment and human resources, so the CIO’s characteristics suit it perfectly. However, in order for a CIO to be able to carry out all tasks efficiently, adequate training is essential.

Training and skills of the CIO

As regards training, even though there are no specific academic courses currently recognised, the person in charge of information technology can only assume that role after obtaining extensive technical training in the field of IT.

It is also essential that they possess several years’ experience in areas such as problem solving, communication networks, supplier contracts and IT coordination, especially if they aspire to become a senior CIO.

The chief information officer must also have expert knowledge of the latest technologies and be able to interpret data gathered using increasingly sophisticated instruments: the accurate interpretation of Big Data by the director of information will allow the company to cut its risks to a minimum.

In reality the CIO can be considered a kind of point of contact between the CEO and the Financial Manager. This individual must be specialised in the machine system operations, but also skilled in taking decisions which are advantageous to the business.

That concludes our brief summary of the role of chief information officer: the professional who will have the arduous task of guiding business innovation during the fourth industrial revolution, while making the company that employs them more dynamic, adaptable and (above all) competitive.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith