IT managers need to step up and drive the business: Pikom

• CIOs and CTOs still playing second fiddle in the C-suite
• They need to be more vocal at the boardroom level

 
EXECUTIVES holding the top ICT positions in a company need to play a greater leadership role in driving their organisations’ business, urged the National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom).
 
Pikom chairman Chin Chee Seong (aka CS Chin) said that regardless of the industry vertical or sector, the role of ICT is undeniable in supporting the business.
 
“In fact, technology can be considered the single investment that can support the business in a holistic manner,” he said in a statement.

READ MORE: No excuses: Malaysian CIOs have an edge, says Gartner
 
Chin argued that automation has become pervasive at all functional levels of an organisation, and decision-making relies heavily on business analytics.
 
Rather than adopting the customary ‘reactive’ approach with regards to ICT investment, top IT management such as chief information officers (CIOs), chief technology officers (CTOs) and senior IT directors need to be more vocal at the boardroom level to drive for greater technology investments and deployment.
 
They need to act as advocates, urged Chin, and should have a greater say in the company.
 
“CIOs and CTOs can help themselves by researching and showcasing clear case studies for the adoption of new technologies, as well as how ICT can be incorporated in a proactive manner to deliver strong and exacting business value,” he said.
 
Many CIOs and CTOs still play second fiddle at the C-suite level, often reporting to the CFO (chief financial officer), who then reports to the CEO (chief executive officer) and the board of directors, according to Pikom.
 
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