Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Definition - What does Chief Information Officer (CIO) mean?

The chief information officer (CIO) has an information technology (IT) background and manages an organization’s technology and IT interdepartmental manager communications. The CIO is also responsible for strategizing and facilitating improvement within the organization.

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Techopedia explains Chief Information Officer (CIO)

The CIO manages and oversees multiple responsibilities, which are critical to the smooth business operations, including:

Monitoring necessary IT purchases and their timeliness
Using strategy to improve and streamline all business IT processes, such as implementing a project management software system
Improving client relationships via the Internet, such as establishing the organization's Web presence to sell products (The CIO continually searches for methods of increasing and enabling company revenue and growth through technology.)
Establishing an organization’s IT policies and overseeing IT security (This area is usually managed by a computer information security officer (CISO).)
Enabling and strategizing interdepartmental information sharing between departments, executive management and interested parties
Automating office processes, implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems
Managing IT projects through specific program management (Sometimes it is necessary to circumvent a project’s potential to both exceed budget and still never materialize.)

Technology is the primary component of the modern business world. Thus, the CIO must be able to strategize and manage IT projects, ensuring successful business operations.