CIOs need to achieve a balance between business and technology by collaborating closely with business users and constantly adapting to changing technologies, says Radhakrishna Pillai
It is a very challenging time for CIOs right now. CIOs need to urgently realize that if they only focus on the technology space, then there will be no role for them to play anymore in the near future in their organizations.
For example, with cloud computing, mobility, etc., coming into the picture, the decision to adopt these technologies can be taken by marketing and other user departments directly. CIOs need to change their approach towards these technologies. CIOs have to understand the business need so they can suggest the right technology at the right time.
CIOs need to evolve according to the changing scenario, or else they will have limited role in the future. They need to spend more time with the business users — whether it’s marketing, sales, finance or logistics. Unless we understand the business and understand business users’ pain areas and come up with solutions in which they see value, we just cannot remain indispensable as technology experts. Once a business unit knows that as CIOs we understand their pain areas, the acceptability of the technology is much higher.
Since CIOs have a view of the complete enterprise, they can be called as future business visionaries. From that perspective, they are in the best position to move ahead to higher pastures. However, they need to achieve a balance between business and technology. To create this balance, there needs to be collaboration with business users and they need to adapt to changing technology. However, if it is not a right-fit for the business, one does not need to push the particular technology.
Presently, CIOs are in a perfect role to drive the enterprise strategy, considering they have an overall visibility in an organization. They also have an insight into each and every function within it. Thus, if a CIO chooses to play a critical role, he very much can. Once in this position, the CIO has to look at topline as well as the bottomline. I firmly believe that CIOs can contribute to improving the bottomline in their businesses.
In healthcare, the CIO community has a different advantage, because in terms of technology adoption, this vertical is still in a nascent stage of consuming technology, except for a few top companies. Compared to other verticals, healthcare has different priorities in technology. In healthcare, mobility is going to play a major role. Cloud computing can also have a major impact, but the challenge of last-mile connectivity will be a problem. However, healthcare delivery can be completely revolutionized in the cloud.
The evolving CIO needs to understand business. If he understands business, then 50% of the work is over. He needs to understand technology in terms of matching it to suit the business needs. He also needs to manage the user group. He needs to act as a change agent. CIOs need to change from being technology leaders to business leaders. Without this transition, there is still a long way for CIOs to go.
Radhakrishna Pillai is CIO, Super Religare Laboratories Limited.
