A CIO’s personal leadership styles won’t change, but I propose that today’s CIO needs to change and adapt and extend the average tenure.  If you are a change leader and get bored when the most things become operational, then you are missing out on the opportunity to really be strategic, and be working on the next change, then the next.  We have to be continuously looking several years out and look for opportunities where technology can help our organizations differentiate themselves in an everchanging competitive global market. 

We can’t have only one change model in our arsenal. Otherwise, once it’s implemented we have to move to another organization in order to start the process anew.

I’ve been blogging about this concept at turningtechinvisible.blogspot.com.

1> specialist, who spends 2-3 years in the phase in which she specializes then transitions out
2> generalist, who is a broad business/IT leader and great team builder and understands the types and cycles and builds the leadership team accordingly

Some Specialists unfortunately come into a job in the wrong phase – a Value Manager coming in during Evaluation, for example – and end up leaving prematurely. This is why its so important that a CIO is clear on what type and role in which she is strongest AND most passionate.

-Chris

As usual, an insightful post. I like your CIO “types” and organizational “stages.” I also think you are spot-on in matching the two and explaining conditions and tenures.

I have participated in similar conversations, albeit with differing CIO types and organizational stages. In those cases, as in yours, I have always suggested I want a CIO with capabilities to perform any of the types. Regardless of the stage, I suggest each of the type’s skills are required. Granted, some more and some less, based on the given stage.

I ask you, am I expecting too much? Do my CIOs have to be so “specialized” that the type of person assuming the position will always be dictated by the current state of my organization? If so, we can expect CIO tenures to stay short, and likely become even shorter.

Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist
http://community.ca.com/blogs/theitgovernanceevangelist/

As usual, an insightful post. I like your CIO “types” and organizational “stages.” I also think you are spot-on in matching the two and explaining conditions and tenures.

I have participated in similar conversations, albeit with differing CIO types and organizational stages. In those cases, as in yours, I have always suggested I want a CIO with capabilities to perform any of the types. Regardless of the stage, I suggest each of the type’s skills are required. Granted, some more and some less, based on the given stage.

I ask you, am I expecting too much? Do my CIOs have to be so “specialized” that the type of person assuming the position will always be dictated by the current state of my organization? If so, we can expect CIO tenures to stay short, and likely become even shorter.

Steve Romero, IT Governance Evangelist
http://community.ca.com/blogs/theitgovernanceevangelist/

Hope your day is well,
Brent