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By Andy McCue, 18 September 2006 12:15

COMMENT

Consultant CIO

Whereas the paratrooper CIO is brought in to bring about transformation and change in a relatively short period of time the consultant's change brief is usually more long-term.

Platts says: "The consultant CIO is genuinely skilled in business and IT. They build relationships, don't piss people off and have a clear customer focus. You get that profile by periods in general management."

This is the most common type of CIO currently and they are brought into a company with a career background that includes significant periods of customer-facing supply activity in sales, marketing or operations and often in a supplier company. This gives them a unique attribute in being able to put themselves in the mind of the customer.

Unlike the paratrooper CIO, who is not only new to the company but the sector, the consultant is new to the company but experienced in the industry sector and so is able to speak comfortably and with credibility and authority on future technology trends and strategy and the impact on the business - both to the executive committee and their own IT teams.

Without any burning platform for change the consultant CIO also needs to utilise all their relationship building, persuasiveness and diplomacy skills. But they know change won't be fast and are aware they are in a longer game.

The consultant CIO is the one most likely to evolve into a wider business position and a trait of this type of CIO is that they are prepared to take on roles alongside their existing CIO brief where politically expedient or good for their careers.

Ultimately they are "engaged in the art of the possible", according to the CSC Leading Edge Forum research.

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