Survey of automotive industry CIOs: Emerging role of CIO as business technology strategist

There has been a great deal of research conducted about the role of information systems in outperforming competitors. There has also been a great deal of research conducted on the evolving roles and responsibilities of IT leaders and the emerging role of chief information officers (CIOs) as business technology strategist. The focus of this quantitative inquiry was on the emerging role of automotive CIOs as business technology strategists. Twenty-eight CIOs or senior IT leaders who were cognizant of IT strategy in the North America based automotive firms completed a survey. The main objective of the study was to understand CIO required competencies in the automotive industry that would allow them to successfully manage technology changes and convert IT investments to business opportunities. Also examined were the factors that impacted senior IT leaders when performing the business technology strategist role. Quantitative analysis of the data collected from 28 CIOs or senior IT leaders confirmed a linear association between the business technology strategist role of automotive CIOs and some traditional IT management roles. These roles include spokesperson, leader, liaison, resource allocator, and entrepreneur.