Technology and business have never been so intertwined. With the advent of social media, smartphones, and digitization, the business landscape has changed drastically. On the other hand, cybersecurity, digital communication, and other technological advancements have pushed for the need for tech leadership beyond and complementary to the business side of things.

The CIO and CTO roles are being redefined as technology modernizes and grows. To be effective in these professions, an executive must understand both technology and business. The Chief Information Officer‘s (CIO’s) conventional function is to oversee the IT department that’s primarily responsible for infrastructure, security, and operations. The Chief Technology Officer‘s (CTO) original core responsibility was to develop new technologies that would drive growth for their firm or organization.

Now, as CTO and CIO functions evolve, do businesses need both a CIO and a CTO? With their roles having tendencies to overlap, there’s an ongoing debate among business leaders about whether or not organizations need both a CIO and CTO. Some people claim that having two leadership positions in the same organization wastes time and energy. Still, others think the jobs are complementary, with each bringing unique qualities to the table. Let’s tackle each role in the following sections and whether or not you’ll need both.

CIO vs. CTO: Key Differences in Roles and Responsibilities  

TechTarget discusses how the responsibilities of CIOs and CTOs are now a blur. With the changes in how businesses operate, many of the business leader functions of CIOs and CTOs have been modified or are being done differently. Nowadays, some think that a Chief Digital Officer can replace a CIO. Or, a CTO role can now be folded into a Chief Product Officer role.

Despite this blur in responsibilities with other functions, CIOs and CTOs continue to be relevant. For instance, the modern-day CIO is now responsible for a much broader range of tasks, including digital transformation efforts, such as digital marketing, customer experience management, big data analysis, social media strategy, mobile strategy, and so on, which all require an understanding of not only technology but also business strategy and marketing.

CIOs are more inclined to look at the business when it comes to running companies. Their responsibilities involve providing accessibility and visibility to information about the finances and operations of a company.

CIOs are responsible for the following:

• • • Developing the business further
    • Aligning business goals with the needs of users
    • Leading senior executives
    • Ensuring compliance of tech infrastructure and systems
    • Negotiating with the technology vendors and other partners
    • Managing the financial costs of these IT systems and infrastructure with the company’s best interest in mind

On the other hand, the CTO is responsible for the technology side of a company. They are in charge of building and developing the future of technology in the company. The product development team under a CTO plans, researches, and develops innovative products. They are in charge of building and developing the future of technology in the company.

CTOs oversee a team or teams researching trends, designing prototypes, and anticipating future problems. The CTO will oversee all aspects of technological innovation, productization, and deployment. Working with designers and developers to bring ideas to life while overseeing new product development.

The responsibilities of a CTO include the following:

• • • Communicating with customers about their needs
    • Expanding business opportunities using innovative technology
    • Preventing competitors from impacting existing systems and businesses
    • Implementing best practices and monitoring breakthroughs in tech
    • Keeping up to date on the compliance and security needs of products and services

CIO vs. CTO: Is There a Need for Both?   

The short answer is yes, you need both for their expertise, especially if you want dedicated attention to their respective focus areas. The CIO supervises the organization’s information systems and data, whereas the CTO supervises technical choices concerning architecture, software development, and other technological issues. With their distinct areas of knowledge, it is clear that both jobs are critical for maximizing the potential of an organization’s IT infrastructure.

However, fears of recession this year might require a cutback on company spending. Thus, having both in a small company may be difficult to achieve. Additionally, as organizations become more reliant on technology, they must have the right people in place to manage their respective departments.

Experts agree that each company must develop its own strategy for these roles. For example, depending on their size and sector, some businesses may find that having both a CIO and a CTO is beneficial, but others may only require one or the other. Businesses may choose which combination works best for them by knowing the duties of each function.

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CIOs and CTOs Need for Collaboration 

Collaboration between the CIO and the CTO is becoming increasingly crucial as technology quickly alters how business is done. Working together guarantees that their organization fully utilizes current technology solutions while ensuring that they are executed efficiently and effectively. Companies that have both a CIO and a CTO can optimize their IT expenditures while avoiding risks.

Both positions will have relevant insight and training that could help reach business goals. Having competent communication skills that enable them to translate ideas and directives to their non-IT employees and colleagues is essential. Deloitte reports that CIOs are key in helping drive innovation in the business as they oversee emerging IT trends. Complementing the work of a CIO, CTO-driven initiatives and policies can further technology development in companies.

Consider CIOs are the architects of your tech infrastructure and your CTOs as the engineers. CTOs are tasked with making day-to-day decisions on how infrastructure can be more efficient. CTOs can learn from CIOs on how to best minimize costs and relate with the existing business ecosystem. They can create technology teams with DevOps engineers on how best to communicate with departments about the necessary devices or equipment. Business operations considering different work arrangements, such as agile setups, can benefit from this collaboration.

Products and services will only be improved when collaboration supplements these corporate responsibilities. As emerging technology changes business landscapes, corporate leadership and strategy will always follow.

ON-DEMAND GROUP ON REDEFINING LEADERSHIP ROLES IN TECHNOLOGY

On-Demand Group recognizes that businesses and their management will have varying operational and productivity needs. As the roles of CIOs and CTOs are being redefined, opportunities to pursue similar corporate roles are opening up more and more. Learning and empowering yourself with management skills and operational knowledge on these digital trends can prepare you to pursue CIO and CTO roles better.

As an incoming business leader, we can help you navigate the opportunities available to you. We help foster confidence in our tech talents since we understand that higher levels of expertise and unique skill sets are necessary for higher executive positions. With the right consulting guidance, we can help you take advantage of opportunities where you can thrive. We will give you the support needed to land these opportunities, helping you stay ahead. Contact us today!