Become a CIO: information systems governance, strategy and management

Module 1: Positioning the CIO's strategic role

• The historical evolution of the IT function into the CIO role.
• Positioning the CIO within the company and executive committee.
• Defining strategic, operational and regulatory responsibilities.
• Aligning information systems with overall organisational strategy.
• Creating value through digital and technological innovation.
• Managing relationships with senior management, business functions and partners.
• Adopting the CIO's key roles: strategist, facilitator, custodian and innovator.
• Establishing KPIs for information systems management.

Hands-on exercises

• Analyse an IT function's current positioning and define a strategic target for its development.

Module 2: Structuring governance and organisation

• The fundamental responsibilities of an information systems department.
• Information systems governance and management rules.
• Organising IT: defining roles, responsibilities and scope.
• Structuring key functions: infrastructure, applications, support and security.
• Sourcing strategy: insourcing, outsourcing and provider management.
• Implementing responsibility matrices such as RACI.
• Introduction to ITIL and COBIT best-practice frameworks.

Hands-on exercises

• Develop a target organisational structure and a governance matrix suited to a given context.

Module 3: Mastering financial management and budgeting

• Financial management fundamentals applied to IT.
• Distinguishing and balancing OPEX and CAPEX.
• A structured approach to building an annual IT budget.
• Calculating total cost of ownership and analysing hidden costs.
• Budget trade-offs and prioritisation of strategic investment.
• Financial justification of projects: ROI, business value and risk reduction.
• Budget monitoring and dashboards for senior management.

Hands-on exercises

• Build a simulated IT budget and prepare arguments to defend it.

Module 4: Securing information systems and managing projects

• The CIO's role in overall IT project management.
• Comparing V-model, agile and hybrid management methods.
• Project portfolio governance and prioritisation.
• Identifying and managing information systems risks.
• Introduction to business continuity planning and digital resilience.
• The CIO's information security responsibilities and coordination with the CISO.
• Integrating regulatory requirements for compliance and data protection.

Hands-on exercises

• Conduct a high-level risk analysis and define project portfolio priorities.

Module 5: Establishing your executive leadership approach

• Adopting the CIO's managerial and strategic stance.
• Communicating and explaining issues to governing bodies.
• Managing crises and making decisions under constraints.
• Building a multi-year information systems roadmap.
• Aligning the roadmap with overall business strategy.
• Preparing to present and defend the budget and strategy.
• Developing an individual action plan for taking up the role.

Hands-on exercises

• Role-play an information systems strategy presentation to a simulated executive committee.