A lot of people do not understand the differences between a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), thinking that both positions are not important in the scalability of a business growth. This should not transpire especially if your business focuses on technical aspects. These two can help you improve your brand and strengthen your day-to-day performance in the industry.
What is the position of CIO vs CTO in organizational chart?
Based on the hierarchy of positions, the CIO is higher than the CTO in most of the corporate situations these days. Which is more close to the CEO? Because of its different tasks, the CIO can have a direct contact with a CEO and other executive positions because it focuses on internal affairs. On the other hand, since a CTO focuses on the external duties, he is someone that the CEO will ask for to assess the business performance on the outside level.
With regards to the career opportunity, the CTO gets a better edge compared to a CIO. The reason behind is because the CIO needs to thoroughly understand what the company is all about to ensure that appropriate technical support and system can be formulated. In finding a competent CIO for your company, it is best to look for someone who is business-oriented with a background on your niche so that you are guaranteed that he can create solid methods in leveraging your brand in the industry.
CIO vs CTO – how much do they get paid?
Now let’s talk about their salary. Based on Glassdoor, the average salary of a CTO is $166, 246. While based on the 2010 State of the CIO Survey produced by CIO magazine, the average survey a CIO gets is at $219,300. However, it all depends on the company’s demands and needs. There come instances where CTOs earn better than their CIOs.
Now that we have discussed their levels and salaries, let us now assess the jobs that each position has to understand the differences between the two, and also to understand why one gets more money than the latter.
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
- Serves as the business’ top technology infrastructure officer
- Plan, guide and execute internal IT operations
- Formulates IT strategies that will lead a company to increased profitability
- Offers assistance and guidance to senior managers about the appropriate IT acquisition and management
- Manages IT architecture which focuses on the framework of existing advancements to efficiently achieve the company’s improved ROI and goals
- Improves work procedures through the integration of outstanding IT features
- Deals with the overall management, and business analysis and alignment
- Supports the transformation of business, if needed
- Evaluates IT budgets to see unnecessary expenditures
- Speaks with proactive business partner if there are presence of new opportunities that can be enablers for growth
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Oversees potential IT developments that could improve the company’s marketability and scalability
- Focuses on the products, requiring the assessment of the buyers’ needs and preferences
- Looks closely at technical aspects, which covers both hardware and software programs
- Provides viable options for hard-to-achieve strategies
- Strengthen network securities to prevent risk of outside breaches
- Protect sensitive internal and external client information through effective technical structures and programs
- Clarify and execute Internet usage policies for employees
- Manages any digital media assets
- Improves company’s web presence through proper development which could lead to increased site traffic and online sales
It is important to clarify these differences to clarify where the CIO’s task ends and where the CTO’s task begins.
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