What does the CIO do? Everything!

What are the responsibilities of a company CIO? For starters, they are the ones who put their finger in the dyke when the going gets tough. They are the people who can bring innovation to the company to help it thrive.

They should be part of the executive team in order to make key, strategic decisions. These days, the CIO's job is complex and multi-faceted. It is always changing and requires adaptability and flexibility. It means knowing technology, having a great staff, and understanding business needs and the company's bottom line.

When a CIO takes the job and the title, there should be a reasonable understanding of responsibilities and authority, and the chain of command. It might also be a good idea to know that the top bosses have an appreciation for the role and importance IT plays in the success of the company.

We report this week on the idea that a CIO must be a good sales person, convincing everyone around the IT shop that his or her idea will work. That means the CIO must sell ideas to senior management and to those who will be using the technology inside and outside of the company.

The next step, of course, is to get funding for those bright ideas. Then comes to the implementation phase, making sure the technology works, the people using it know what they are doing and finding ways to advance the business.

Of course, there are many other skills needed for the CIO's job. Having risk management abilities, relationship-building skills and the insight to see the need for change and then manage it well. Good CIO's need to husband resources, and in these tough times, know how to make do with less while still moving forward.

It is the most talented CIO who can make all these pieces work, who can delegate when he cannot do all the work alone and come up with innovations that will make the job easier. - Judi