Charting a Course to the Top: Insights from the Fortune 500 CIOs and How They Differ from Other C-Suite Executives
Article No.: 11, Pages 1 - 8
Abstract
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a vital leadership role in modern corporations that is responsible for making important decisions about the direction and use of technology within the organization. The CIO works alongside other chief officers, such as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), to help determine the profitability and future success of the corporation. To better understand the characteristics and experiences that lead to becoming a CIO at a Fortune 500 company, this study analyzed the career histories of 2,842 Fortune 500 executives and employed an inductive methodology to identify the characteristics of executive career profiles, with a particular focus on CIOs. The results of the study suggest that aspiring CIOs should work at multiple companies in various roles, strive to follow conventional educational paths, such as attending elite universities and earning advanced degrees, and be prepared to work at more companies and in more roles for shorter periods of time than other C-level counterparts. These findings may be employed by both aspiring chief officers and hiring organizations to establish career checkpoints, improve understanding of the contemporary executive population, and make informed career decisions.
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Published In
June 2023
95 pages
ISBN:9798400700941
DOI:10.1145/3579168
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Published: 29 August 2024
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