What private-sector CIOs are saying
A new survey explores industry CIOs' frustrations, ambitions and compensation.
CIO Magazine’s newest "State of the CIO" report finds private-sector CIOs struggling with shifting expectations and responsibilities.
The report's findings suggest that CIOs have a growing role in business strategy, and 91 percent of CIOs describe their jobs as "more challenging." Yet 20 percent feel "sidelined" by business owners, and 74 percent believe it is difficult to "find the right balance between business innovation and operational excellence." With that additional stress, however, comes a 7 percent increase in average compensation over 2014:
CIO Compensation by Year
CIOs have shifted toward seeing themselves as business partners and leaders as well as service providers; however, nearly a fifth of respondents continue to believe their role is seen as a "cost center," where the "enterprise value [of IT is] unappreciated, misunderstood or unfulfilled."
How do business leaders perceive the IT group?
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Response | Percent |
| Business leader | 13% |
| Business partner | 30% |
| Cost center | 18% |
| Service Provider | 38% |
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And whether it's ambition or frustration, just 45 percent of respondents anticipated that they would remain a CIO in the coming years:
In which direction do you see your personal career heading in the next 3 to 5 years?
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Response | Percent |
| More operational (e.g., COO, shared services) | 13% |
| Customer-facing digital strategist | 9% |
| Consultant | 8% |
| Other (e.g., retired, entrepreneur) | 24% |
| Continue to be CIO | 45% |
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