Meet Michael. He's a CITO (Chief Information and Technology Officer) at an IT firm.
What’s the first thing you can guess about his role? Probably this:
Aha! Don’t be misled by the "information and technology" part of his role!
The CITO role goes way beyond just IT and includes much more than working on a computer all day long.
CITO Role Explained
Does an engineer, after years of experience, become a CITO? No! A CITO is not an engineering or a programming role. It’s not mandatory to have coding skills to become a CITO.
In fact, a CITO works with business as well as operations too! They ensure that the technology strategy of a company matches its business strategy.
CITO is a combined role of Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer. Therefore, it's referred to as Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO).
Refer to this video to understand the difference between the two.
What Keeps a CITO Busy Through the Day?
Developing a technology roadmap for the digital transformation of a company
Leading digital transformation initiatives to successful implementation
Establishing long-term IT goals, policies, and procedures
Giving technical guidance on high-priority projects
Imparting business acumen to the IT teams developing marketable technology
Employing technical strategy to improve customer-facing, end products
Engaging in financial planning to ensure cost-effective IT operations
Quiz
What are different job duties of a CITO?
What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a CITO?
A technical degree (such as Bachelor of Computer Technology, Informatics), or
A business degree (such as BBA, MBA), or
A combination of both (such as a diploma in IT Management)
Skills You'll Need To Be a Successful CITO
Vision and technology leadership, including the ability to give clear directions to your team.
Ability to influence and collaborate, including the ability to persuade others.
Communication skills, including oral and presentation skills.
Business and financial acumen, including a strong understanding of market dynamics.
Project management skills, including risk and change management.
Thinking about potential employers?
Job opportunities are available in many different sectors like:
IT
E-Commerce
Banking
Telecommunication
Aviation
Mining
And would they compensate me well?
The average CITO salary in the United States is $292,080 as of February 25, 2022, but the range typically falls between $241,690 and $354,710.
The median annual CITO salary in Winnipeg, Canada is C$244,199, as of February 25, 2022, with a range usually between C$204,752-C$299,891.
Take Action
If being a CITO resonates with you:
Your feedback matters to us.
This Byte helped me better understand the topic.
I feel confident that I can apply what I learned.
I would recommend this Byte.
Connect with Rumie learners
Browse more content and join a supportive community! Browse more content, receive support, share your expertise, and keep learning through text and voice chat!
- Discord Member
This Byte has been authored by
Vikas Sharma
Instructional Designer