Like for everyone else, it has been a tumultuous couple of years for CIOs. The economic meltdown transformed the world and hit IT organisations in its wake. CIOs have faced extraordinary situations and unique risks – with no ‘quick fix’ solutions in sight. Budgets and team sizes were trimmed to begin with. And expectedly, many much-awaited and ambitious projects were either curtailed or put on hold.

Undaunted by these adversities and global apprehensions, a large number of Indian CIOs forged ahead to create internal efficiencies and some remarkable self-funded innovations. These innovations have demonstrated that select CIOs are harbingers of success, with the ability to win against all odds.

Can the same skills work for them as the economy enters a growth phase? Can the CIO who essentially played the role of an IT leader, grow into the shoes of a business strategist, an able pragmatist and a relentless cost-cutter?

To find the answers, The CTO Forum launched its first “State of the Indian CIO” survey. We focused on the emergence of the CIO’s role in an enterprise and his growing influence as a strategic leader. With over 200 responses from leading IT decision-makers in India, we believe this is as insightful a study, as one could hope for to set the trend going forward. The results are revealing and show the continuing transformation of the CIO’s role.  

As we look into the year 2010, the survey shows that CIOs will place emphasis on aligning IT with their business goals to create an efficient enterprise. Many of our respondents expect to move further from the mundane to the strategic i.e start spending more time on planning and implementing new technologies. Organisationally too, there are telling shifts. A growing number of CIOs now report directly to their CEOs and are an integral part of top level management in their organisations – a decisive shift from yesteryears.

The good news continues and the most heartening element of the survey was the prediction for IT spends. More than 70 percent of India’s technology decision-makers expect their budgets to increase in the New Year. With this stimulant, CIOs will have an opportunity to use their ‘new-found’ influence and collaborative partnership with business to invest strategically and transform their organisations. While this is not an easy task, it will present opportunities for CIOs to emerge winners yet again!

With 2010 a few days away, I wish you all success and happiness in the new year.

rahul.mani@9dot9.in