TALKING

CIO ’ s role in modern organisations has undergone a profound transformation in recent years . Once predominantly focused on managing IT costs and infrastructure , the modern CIO now holds a far more strategic and influential role .

This pivotal shift is largely influenced by the increasing prominence of Digital Transformation at the heart of many company strategies . The rapid pace of market changes has led to a general shift in the way businesses structure themselves , which in turn has led to the evolution of the CIO role . Previously a cost centre , the CIO is now a strategic enabler for the business .

Naturally , fast-paced changes in the world of ‘ digital ’ kick-up a whole host of challenges , some of which fall directly at the CIO ’ s feet ; for example , cybersecurity , data privacy , infrastructure and compliance , to name just a few .

It is perhaps because of these hurdles that CIOs form such an integral part of the wider business function , driving innovation and growth with two core objectives in mind : to achieve optimum agility and build out the company ’ s network of strategic partners throughout the Digital Transformation journey .

Unifying the business

For a successful Digital Transformation , the crucial first step is to develop a clear vision that aligns with all areas of the business . for a swift response to shifting trends and market fluctuations , ensuring businesses remain competitive and resilient . But agility alone is not enough . CIOs also need to foster a culture of experimentation and innovation , becoming catalysts in their organisations for trying new ideas and pushing boundaries .

Experimentation and innovation should be embedded into the very fabric of an organisation , becoming a continuous , iterative process rather than a oneoff event . This might involve leveraging emerging technologies , exploring unconventional ideas , or even pivoting business models . Not all experiments will succeed , but that ’ s okay . The lessons learned from failure are sometimes the most valuable , helping to fuel more refined , innovative solutions in future iterations . If you only ever succeed , it probably means you are not taking enough risks or being bold enough in what you are trying to do . Disruption requires being bold and being bold often results in short-term setbacks .

David Lees , CTO at Basis Technologies

This means achieving complete alignment between the technology strategy and wider business objectives . Gone are the days when tech and business objectives were separate . Now , owing to the digitally-driven nature of modern businesses , they have significantly converged and siloes are becoming less commonplace .

A key part of this alignment is therefore identifying and investing in the right technologies . Keeping abreast of the latest technical trends and advancements , and understanding how those can be applied , is vital . This requires CIOs to connect the dots between the organisation , the current solutions , the challenges and the business goals , bringing together all the right people with the right mindset for innovation .

Driving agility and experimentation

It ’ s through this relentless pursuit of innovation and improvement that organisations can truly unlock the transformative potential of digital technology , creating new value for customers and staying ahead in the game . CIOs are now more than just technology leaders ; they are champions of agility , experimenters at heart and the driving force behind business innovation .

Fostering internal and external collaboration

Innovation and growth don ’ t happen in isolation , so the responsibility does not fall to one function . You need the right participation from several parts of the business . Whether this be from within sales , marketing , product supply , or somewhere else , they all need to be an embedded part of the team .

In this rapidly changing digital landscape , agility is the CIO ’ s new mantra . Adopting an agile mindset allows

There has to be that openness . Internal collaboration allows a team to harness the strength of diversity ,

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