It is commonly accepted that digital systems and services now underpin most successful organisations. CIOs, as the guardians of technology implementation, have a duty to keep their bosses informed about the potential for digital disruption. But how should technology chiefs keep their CEOs up to date? Four experts offer their advice on how to brief the boss on digital transformation.
1. Get on the front foot at every opportunity
Dentsu Aegis European CIO Gideon Kay recognises that regular interactions with the CEO are crucial to success. But he does more than sit back and wait[1] for a call.
"I try and pre-empt those conversations -- I act on the front foot with things like cloud and GDPR and machine learning," he says. "I try and bring that to the business in terms of an active and proactive briefing."
Kay says the executive team engages regularly with businesses in Silicon Valley.
"We've done research tours of the Valley, both myself personally and with other senior executives in the business," says Kay. "We also have strong partnerships with Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon and other major providers, so we look to bring some of that thinking into the organisation's technology DNA."
SEE: Special report: Tech budgets 2018: A CXO's guide[2] (free PDF)
The firm also runs global innovation awards for the whole business[3] as part of its annual conference. Dentsu Aegis showcases technological innovation as part of that process, so people at all levels of the business can see what's being done and how.
"We try and push our partners to bring some of their thinking to the mix. But it's a constant challenge and it's really important," says Kay.