- IT is no longer just a support function but becomes a strategic asset and core of the business: from cost to value add
- Convergence of process and product IT
- De-materialisation: from hardware to software, SW-defined products
- Open innovation using technology as a core resource
- Every leader needs to become a digital leader or "who needs a CDO?"
- The times of the centralised IT organisations are over or “shadow IT, what's wrong with it?”
- Digital natives enter the workforce: networks instead of hierarchies
- Shorter time-to-market cycles: everything becomes agile
- Control over IT procurement moves to the users
- Reverse the outsourcing madness -> back-sourcing
- Technology becomes a topic for boards of directors
- Increasing cyber threats
The impact of the above outlined trends will result in a number of changes that "traditional" CIOs will have to carefully think about if they want to stay relevant within their companies. In my view, the only way for established CIOs to survive in their roles is to drastically disrupt and re-invent themselves.
The changes discussed in the following chapters are in no way conclusive, but it has already become apparent that they are significant enough to call into question the traditional role of the CIO.
