
This blog is a follow-up to the post Opportunities & Risks for Digital-first Leaders in Business-led IT
The days of shadow IT as an unregulated threat are over. Business-led IT represents a fundamental shift in how organizations innovate and operate. To succeed in this new reality, CIOs must embrace what I call the “New CIO” mindset. This evolution requires moving beyond traditional responsibilities of “design, build, and run” to a more dynamic focus on collaborating, integrating, and orchestrating.
Here are some of those evolved responsibilities the New CIO should prioritize:
Collaborate – From gatekeeper to strategic enabler
The New CIO transitions from being a gatekeeper to becoming a strategic partner, enabling innovation across the organization. This requires a deep understanding of the SaaS solutions marketplace, allowing the CIO to guide business leaders in selecting secure, scalable, and effective tools. Acting as a bridge between vendors and business units, the New CIO fosters collaborative partnerships that deliver maximum value while minimizing risks, positioning IT as an indispensable enabler of success.
Integrate – Integration as the core of value creation
In a decentralized IT landscape, the New CIO ensures that business-led solutions integrate seamlessly into the broader enterprise environment. This involves leveraging APIs, middleware, and data platforms to unify systems and enable interoperability. Integration also unlocks the full potential of analytics, BI, and reporting, providing insights that drive smarter decision-making. Additionally, the New CIO prioritizes identity and access management (IAM) to mainta