Blackwell Reference Online

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The chief information officer (CIO) is the highest‐ranking manager responsible for the management of information resources and information technology within an organization. Although the job responsibilities of the CIO may vary somewhat from organization to organization, the CIO usually reports to the president and chief executive officer. The position typically has three broad responsibilities: (1) understanding the strategy of the overall organization and developing a technology strategy that is consistent with it; (2) the management of information technology (e.g., hardware, software, and networks); and (3) the management of the information resources (applications, databases, and personnel) used by the organization. As the senior information technology (IT) officer, it is the CIO's responsibility to understand the organization's mission and objectives and the potential benefits of using information technology. The CIO's challenge is to seek out opportunities where existing as well as emerging information technology can be deployed to achieve organization objectives as well as to find ways in which information technology can be used to gain competitive advantage. This technology–strategy matching challenge is often termed “IT alignment” or “IT fit” within the organization. The aggressive use of information technology and the growth in the creation, need, and use of information ... log in or subscribe to read full text