In times of uncertainty, many organisations have put themselves on a ‘diet ‘of intensive cost-cutting and efficiency. However, in the future cost-cutting and efficiency alone will not be an adequate strategy for CIOs to succeed. CIOs will also need to be able to innovate to deliver commercial advantage to their business and secure influence.
To get the balance right CIOs need to be able to identify the forces that are shaping the world in which they are operating and understand how they respond. This is where PA Consulting Group’s CIO FutureWorlds approach can help. Based on the degree to which IT is core or peripheral to the business and whether IT is tactical/revenue intensive or strategic/capital intensive PA has identified four typical worlds in which CIOs operate including:
Agile world: In this world IT is an enabler in the context of relative stability and is core to the business model. IT functions in this world are adept at reacting dynamically to these external factors and have a track record of success.
Visionary world: In this world IT-led transformation is a core competence for organisations as well as the foundation for day to day operations. Organisations have achieved successful alignment of IT and business as part of business as usual.
Vigilant world: In this world IT plays a more support role (peripheral to the business model). The IT function must remain alert to exploit opportunities to build credibility and value.
Lean world: In this world IT operated in a highly constrained external market and plays a support role to the business. IT is reliant on third parties to identify and provide the capability needed to make transformation successful.
We can help you understand which world you are in now, where you want to be and critically how to move between worlds, including understanding the operating styles and competencies required for success
There is no one right place to be, and a fit for the future CIO will be able to flex and adapt to what is required for different parts of the organisation or for the market environment. The future is uncertain and you cannot know what it holds.
to find out more about our CIO future worlds approach.
Contact us now for a meeting to discuss how you and your wider IT function can become fit for the future.