The successful CIO: integrating organizational and individual perspectives

In alignment with the SIGCPR-93 conference theme, this paper examines “what we know and don't know” about the successful CIO from both the organizational and individual perspectives. Literature on the contextual characteristics of the CIO role and the nature of the work is first reviewed, followed by literature on the individual CIO's traits, skills, and behaviors. Two themes important for future research in this area emerge. First, today's typical CIO is operating under the dual objectives of increased control and increased responsiveness, with oversight responsibilities for dispersed IS managers and functions. Second, given this increase sharing of IS responsibilities with division management, a key challenge for today's CIO is to forge partnerships with senior management and division heads in order to exert influence without direct authority. Although no empirical research on the CIO partnership role was found, publications for practitioner audiences by leaders in the MIS field are reviewed for insights on this topic. Finally, a framework for future research which integrates these organizational and individual perspectives, as well as the new dependence on partnership relationships, is proposed.