If you work for an business that prides itself on being innovative but is struggling to keep up with technological innovation internally, you are not alone. The pace of technological change is faster than ever, and your leadership must rapidly adapt to these changes to best meet business needs. If competition demands your business adopt change faster, it may be time to engage the help of an Interim CIO.
An Interim CIO can help bridge the gap between business processes and emerging technologies that will drive efficiency, growth and profitability. An Interim CIO can:
- Ensure your IT operations continue running smoothly during a time of change or growth
- Reimagine customer experiences
- Enhance operational efficiency
- Quickly get a runaway project on track
CIOs play a critical role of determining how to leverage technology to accelerate a mission or implement efficient business operations. A great CIO can create an overall IT strategy that balances business requirements, budget and considers just how much change your business can absorb. As Francesco Tinto, Vice President and CIO at Kraft, explains, “My job is to enable the business via technology to get better results and to help the business – people and teams – be their best.”
Perhaps your CIO recently was dismissed, is on extended leave, or simply moved on. Or maybe your business doesn’t have a CIO but has an immediate need for a CIO’s specific business skill set. In either case, it may be time to bring an Interim CIO aboard. An experienced Interim CIO will bring a track record of success and will have the fresh perspective and experience needed to drive results.
You may be surprised at the unexpected benefits hiring an Interim CIO can bring. In addition to providing a fresh perspective, Interim CIOs can steer clear of corporate politics more easily than full-time employees can, and tend to be high-energy and hyper-focused on results and improvements as their livelihood and reputation depends on producing results in short clicks.
Here are 10 signs it’s high time to hire an experienced Interim CIO who can ensure your technology initiatives are helping your business function efficiently and are supporting its strategy to drive competitive advantage:
1. Your business operations are simply not aligned with your IT efforts.
If your leadership team is not including the technology team in the strategic planning process, it is running a big risk of misaligning business strategy and IT initiatives and missing out on leveraging technology for competitive advantage. A CIO needs to have a seat at the table, where he or she can offer expert advice and visionary guidance on how they can best align.
2. There is a current IT project underway that is in need of immediate life support.
Is a current IT effort over budget, behind schedule or otherwise affecting employees’ abilities to do their work? If so, you may be stuck between a rock and a hard place. You’re in need of help with an urgent problem that requires immediate attention. An Interim CIO can step in right away and provide “project rescue” and needed direction to change course. Many Interim CIOs come ready with teams of experienced colleagues who can bring laser focused expertise that result in lightning quick improvements.
3. Your business is going through a major cultural transition.
If your business just underwent a merger, acquired a new division, or established a new process that transformed the way you do business, a CIO can provide the technical direction needed to drive change while creating a roadmap that ensures a smooth long-term transition. CIOs are more than technological experts, they are organizational leaders.
As Randy Sloan, Senior Vice President and CIO of Southwest Airlines explains, “I want my legacy to be that I was instrumental in delivering the business transformation and strategic agenda that Southwest had planned. I would like them to remember me as a great Southwest business leader – not a CIO or technology leader, but a business leader who…modeled our culture and core values well.”1
4. You know you need to implement a new technology, but have no idea how to go about doing it.
If you’ve never developed a long or short term technology strategy or roadmap you are not alone. An Interim CIO can create a comprehensive, overall strategy for your IT organization that includes a roadmap to successfully implementing new technologies and in a timeframe your business and budget can absorb.
5. You’ve been searching for a CIO for three months or more.
CIOs can be hard to find and even harder to replace. Finding someone who is a perfect fit for your senior leadership team — or developing that talent internally — can take months. If your business needs urgent help but you need some more time to find the perfect person, hiring an Interim CIO can alleviate stress and work that is falling on other senior leaders who don’t have the needed technical expertise to oversee IT projects.
6. You are considering an IT project but need to assess risk before moving forward.
An Interim CIO can make a professional IT risk assessment and help you determine the opportunities and potential risks associated with a new product, service or merger. By evaluating risk and then creating an integrated strategy, a CIO can help implement a new technology from start to finish, ensuring there is little or no business disruption.
7. Employees are having a difficult time adjusting to a major technological change in your business.
Maybe you just launched a new ERP or transitioned to a new cloud platform. If employees own the application and business process you could be looking at serious operational inefficiency. An Interim CIO can quickly help employees adjust to a major change by creating and overseeing an integrated plan that helps train and educate employees on how to tap into its benefits.
8. Your business can’t hire a CIO right now, but needs the specific skill set one offers.
Perhaps there is just no room left in the budget for a senior-level IT leader, or you need the help of a part-time trouble shooter rather than a full-time member of leadership. With the ability to scale up when needed and take a step back when he or she is not, an Interim or Fractional CIO could be a perfect fit for your team’s needs if they fluctuate or only require part-time help.
9. Your business needs an object assessment of its IT operation.
If you are in need of a full, unbiased review of your holistic IT operation, an Interim CIO can offer a fresh set of eyes and make unbiased recommendations. And unlike a long-term employee, an Interim CIO may be more easily able to make objective, tough decisions and recommendations, even if they are unpopular.
10. Your business is struggling with how new innovative technologies like Big Data, Analytics, IoT and AI can propel the business.
Is your gut telling you that your IT team is talented, but there is a gap between their areas of expertise and the newest technologies? If so, now is the time to bring an interim CIO on board who can help you tap into these areas before your competition does.
These are just a few of the many ways an Interim CIO can help your business. Contact us to learn how they can specifically help your business in your time of need.
