The Changing Role of the CIO: Developing Skills by Means of Postgraduate Educational Programs

Abstract

The objective of this research was to identify the skills and competences required by Chief Information Officers in their professional life and whether these skills can be developed by means of postgraduate education programs. Although the changing role of the CIO has been studied for years by the academia, the ways of necessary skills development have not been paid significant attention. In order to obtain understanding of the topic and its main issues qualitative method was implemented and questionnaires and interviews were conducted with CIOs and other C-level executives together with analysis of the curricula of postgraduate educational programs in the field of business designed for executives. Business skills and knowledge along with developed communication and leadership skills are among the most discussed and required from CIOs. According to the collected data and its further analysis, although the most important competences of an IT executive are technological, the importance of business related skills is emphasized by the majority of respondents and supported by the existing theory. Postgraduate educational programs have curricula that can develop the required competences, although not equally.