The chief information officer of an organization is responsible for several business functions.
The CIO must fulfill the role of a business leader. The CIO makes executive decisions
regarding matters such as the purchase of IT equipment from suppliers or the creation of
new IT systems. Also as a business leader, the CIO is responsible for leading and directing
the workforce of their specific organization. CIOs also have the responsibility of recruiting, so
it is important that they work proactively to source and nurture the best employees possible.
CIOs are directly required to map out both the ICT strategy and ICT policy of an
organisation. The ICT strategy covers future-proofing, procurement, and the external and
internal standards laid out by an organization. Similarly, the CIO must develop the ICT policy,
which details how ICT is utilized and applied. Both are needed for the protection of the
organization in the short and long term and the process of strategizing for the future.