Job Description of a Strategic CIO
A strategic CIO (chief information officer) position originated in the workforce as the need for information systems management at the corporate level expanded. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2011 edition), the job outlook for a strategic CIO is expected "little to no change" which means the demand for a strategic CIO can decrease by 2 percent or increase by 2 percent over the decade 2008 to 2018. This is a highly competitive and selective field because of high pay, prestige and tenure. A strategic CIO is also known as a chief technology officer (CTO) or chief information specialist (CIS).
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Duties
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A strategic CIO is responsible for creating strategic plans and monitoring operations of an enterprise-wide information system for a business or organization. Responsibilities include budgeting, resource allocation, systems expansion and design, systems acquisition and operations management of all information systems and programming activities. The strategic CIO interacts with executive management in communicating concepts for revenue streams generated by information systems technology.
Job Features
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The strategic CIO may be assigned by the executive committee to conduct research on acquiring a new system and calculating the cost benefits of a system. The strategic CIO provides guidance to other corporate divisions concerning procedures used to classify data and determines, with various data officers, the information that is needed when discussing a project. The CIO must keep the lines of communication open among executive management, division supervisors and operations staff.
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Job Functions
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The strategic CIO establishes systemwide policies for using enterprise networks and information systems assigned to an organization. The CIO establishes procedures for security controls for data security officers to implement that enhances separation of duties and lowers the risk of data being compromised. The CIO also administers an extensive budget for upgrading software, hardware and telecommunication systems. Duties include meeting with other CIO professionals to share concepts and information pertaining to information systems.
Work Environment
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A strategic CIO typically works at the executive level and has a staff to assist in carrying out his or her duties. The CIO is always on call to attend formal affairs for the company, seminars, workshops and computer technology symposiums. Travel can be extensive for the CIO.
Educational Requirements and Salary
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A master's degree or PhD in Information Systems Management is required for a position as a strategic CIO. A business or organization typically conducts executive-level searches to find candidates with senior management experience. According to www.payscale.com, the salary for a strategic CIO with more than 20 years of experience ranges between $120,342 and $197,878.
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