
Forget the CEO job but the COO role is logical next step up...
By Andy McCue
Published: 7 December 2004 17:30 GMT
Only a minority of CIOs will make it to the top as CEOs but the wider business role of chief operating officer (COO) is within their grasp, according to a new study.
The research by IT services organisation CSC claims the long-term relationship of the CIO with the business is likely to be defined over the next few years and that innovation holds the key.
If CIOs stay with the same company - especially if it is an information-intensive business - the position of COO should be within their grasp but only a few will ever become CEOs of similar-sized organisations, according to the study.
There appears to be an acceptance by CIOs that there will be no 'next big thing' on the technology horizon. Respondents said it is unlikely any new supplier technology will dramatically reshape the IT landscape within the next few years.
Nanotechnology and biotechnology were highlighted as being the next major trends but both are at least five years away from making a major economic impact, according to the research.
One area of opportunity that CIOs are currently lacking is innovation and CIOs are accused of treating innovation purely as a product-based R&D function, according to the research. It claims IT bosses still seek safety in numbers because of the fear and uncertainty associated with buying technology, with a 'follow the herd' mentality.
A recent silicon.com CIO Jury, however, found a majority of the panel's UK-based IT bosses favoured innovation and a 'no risk, no returns' strategy that aims for high yields.
David Moschella, global research director at CSC's research and advisory services and author of the report, said in a statement: "The CIO's long-term relationship with business innovation is likely to be defined over the next few years, presenting a real opportunity to overcome the negative perceptions and establish the CIO as a true business peer."
Moschella added that while there is no substitute for individual success, CIOs also need to overcome the broader stereotypes that can undermine credibility and develop ways of improving the image and reputation of the CIO profession in general.
Previous hires have included IT Directors/CIOs of FTSE 100 firms, former CFOs that are now leading consultants and Supply Chain Directors.Aston ...
Main Accountabilities and approximate time split Management and Performance 60% To deliver a step change in Customer Service capability and ...
Extensive experience in Flex 3.0, Action Script 2.0/3.0 (solid grasp of Flex component architecture) Reporting to: Chief Technical Officer Founded in ...
Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.
Power Solutions Article: High-Availability Virtualization with Dell EqualLogic Arrays...
Power Solutions Article:Â Power Solutions Article: Getting Started with Microsoft...
Customer Case Study:Â A L Filters
Solution Brief: Dell Equalogic PS Series Can Offer Robust, High-Availability Infrastructure...
Stories from the web...
Copyright © 2008 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved. Top of page
Naked CIO Naked CIO: Social networks are useless for finding a job 'Quantity over quality' approach poisoning professional networks
Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Uneconomics We must move away from short-termism to prevent next economic crisis