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This infographic provides a great comparison between the traditional operational CIO and the strategic CIO that many leading companies now need. In my experience, far too many organizations still rely heavily on operational CIOs, and the well-known 80/20 budgeting model remains the norm: 80 percent spent on maintenance and only 20 percent on innovation.
Whether a CIO operates in an operational or strategic capacity is not always a matter of personal choice. It is often shaped by how the business views IT. In many companies, IT is still seen primarily as a service provider rather than a strategic partner capable of driving transformation and competitive advantage.
Fortunately, this mindset is changing. Many of today’s most successful companies have embraced IT as a core part of their business model. Think about Airbnb, Uber, and Alibaba. At first glance, you might categorize them as a hospitality company, a transportation provider, and an online retailer. In reality, they are technology companies at their core.
I recall sitting in a meeting with the CEO of Fast Retailing (the parent company of Uniqlo), Tadashi Yanai, when he described Fast Retailing not as a clothing company, but as a technology company. It was the first time in my career that I worked for an organization where IT was fully integrated with the business and recognized as a key driver of change. The level of partnership, alignment, and forward-thinking strategy was unlike anything I had seen before.
More companies are now moving in this direction, recognizing that technology leadership is fundamental to innovation and growth. The question is: are there enough strategic CIOs ready to lead this shift?
