On the Nature of Effective CIOCEO Communication by Alexander Hütter Thomas Arnitz & René Riedl

Author:Alexander Hütter, Thomas Arnitz & René Riedl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

Table 8 shows that only three out of twelve CEOs explain IT needs clearly to their CIOs (see column “CEO explains IT needs clearly”). Those three CEOs who explain the IT needs to their CIOs in a clear way have either an educational or a professional background in IT. For example, the CEO of Company C has a university degree in computer science, and both the CEO of Company E and the CEO of Company F worked in the role of a CIO within their current companies in the past. Based on this educational or professional background in IT, the CEO can (1) advise the CIO about IT needs more effectively, (2) discuss complex IT issues with the CIO in a more technical language (without explaining and talking too much about basic technological relationships), and (3) is better able to decide how IT should be used within the business. Two interviewees clearly expressed the benefits of a CEO background in IT:I was the previous CIO and handed over all these [IT] things to the current CIO, and therefore, I have a strong affinity with IT … We discuss the improvement of process efficiency through the use of IT, but also topics such as strategic IT orientation, that is, which processes should be supported by IT. (CEO, Company F)

I can present complex technical issues to the CEO without spending hours explaining the technological background. The understanding of the advantages and disadvantages [of IT] is just there, and he often brings in arguments why we need it [or not]. The CEO also asks the right questions, so that we are better able to reflect on an issue again. (CIO, Company C)

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