Gartner: Business wants more from CIOs

You are pulled from the left and from the right. And now you are pulled by your company's business line. A new study by Gartner finds that CIOs realize the importance of using IT in changing business processes, attracting customers and developing new products. And that may be a far cry from the job you signed on to do, if you are expected to be the top of the line for IT. Gartner analyst Mark McDonald says the changing definition of what a CIO should be doing is still in transition. But CIOs will have to focus on what IT can deliver "like never before." This comes with some good news for CIOs. The survey found that CIOs stay in their job an average of four years and four months, meaning there is time to push through new ideas and ways of doing things. And that's particularly good since about half of the 1,500 CIOS responding said they are responsible for initiatives outside traditional IT. That means their jobs are growing in influence as they take on more leadership responsibilities. Has your job as CIO changed, and where it is headed? We'd like to hear about your experiences.

For more on the CIO's changing role:
- Check out this Silicon.com article