IT has moved a long way from being a backend work churning data for processing to a frontend position catering to organisational growth and profitability. CIOs have also been moving up the ladder to fulfill these roles, but if you were to ask me if the CIO has arrived, I would not be very sure.

Alignment with business, innovation, organisational agility, change management are terms that do the round these days. No doubt these terms matter, but for being a leader, I believe the CIO has to move beyond these terms and clichés to a position where he plays a significant role in the organisation.

I believe that just speaking the right language or applying known formulae is not enough to get the CIO home. As a CIO, I have to get around to some basics. I first have to understand the business that I work for, the industry/competition/the market/the consumers etc., and hence the strategic intent of the organisation. I have to form my thoughts and strategize my moves and understand the organisational priorities. I have to be proactive and work for solutions that address business interests. I need to understand the organisation’s work culture, problems that people face, and requirements both that are long and short-term. I would then need to formulate a plan that addresses both, the immediate issues and long-term goals. I would have to formulate my vision and then detail it well before presenting it to the management. Further it is not about software to be installed or a package to be implemented, but about business benefits that would accrue in terms of addressing a business proposition, market expansion, enhancing value to customers, collaboration with partners, work efficiency, reduction of costs and so on. I believe that communication plays a key role in interaction with all stake holders, enrolling them into my vision and seeking their cooperation. It is this interdependence that will help me reach the goal that I set for myself.

The position, I believe, is like being an entrepreneur. As a CIO I have to run my function in a way that it stays viable. In an era of outsourcing, I have to be aware that the company can outsource the entire function. Outsourcing is no evil and therefore I would need to evaluate and work out what is in the best interest of the origination. I can either resort to partial outsourcing or complete outsourcing where I play the role of the interface between the management and the outsourcing agency.

In summary, the CIO has to make an impact and deliver significant value to business.