As an organization advances in its digital transformation journey, stakeholder management and relationships are increasingly important for the CIO. And, as the Millennial generation engulfs the workforce and continues to change personnel dynamics, there will be a stronger focus on transparency, relevancy and engagement.

CIOs need to embrace new strategies and approaches to anticipate and respond to the rapid shifts in the world of information technology. The innovative CIO will engage with leadership to shape the business and move the organization forward. Relationship building, influencing and collaboration will be core skill sets.

The technologies that the business uses will increasingly need to mirror those that employees utilize in their personal lives. The CIO must work with lines of business to make sure that the corporate culture is in sync with the capabilities that new technologies enable.

"CIOs also need to become good networkers within and outside of their organizations. Effective networking is key to building and maintaining productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external parties. Influencing and working collaboratively are much easier if there is a strong underlying relationship between the parties. But networking and building relationships cannot be done in a few days or weeks, it is achieved over months and years. CIOs have to invest time, energy and effort to build their networks and establish good relationships with their stakeholders." (The CIO Leader, The Social CIO)

Statistics 

• More than half of Millennials depend on analytics technologies to help them make better business decisions. (IBM)

• Millennials are projected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025. (Information Week)

• Slightly more than one in 10 (11.6 percent) organizations are delivering significant value through technology. (Deloitte 2020 Global Technology Leadership Study)

Insights

CIOs need to embrace social business to deliver highly valuable engagement, experiences and capabilities to the organization both internally and externally.

The CIO must assist the organization to understand its ability to lead and shape within the capabilities that new technologies allow. 

Culture and innovation will be core to growth and performance of the business.