Dive Brief:
- The technology function is expanding its C-suite presence as organizations prioritize AI adoption rises, according to a Tuesday report published by Deloitte. The company surveyed more than 600 senior technology leaders.
- Nearly one-quarter of executives found it challenging to maintain clearly defined responsibilities amid a proliferation of technology executives within their organization, Deloitte found. CIOs most commonly identified harnessing the potential of data analytics and AI as their leading objective.
- Despite adoption ambitions, nearly half of C-level tech leaders flagged generative AI skills as the most urgently needed competency. Attracting this subset of technology professionals is the highest priority for chief data and analytics officers.
Dive Insight:
Acing AI adoption has ruled executive priorities this year as businesses eye the operational and financial upsides of the technology. Generative AI’s speedy evolution is broadening CIOs’ influence across organizations.
“There may be an opportunity for technology leaders, who are the visionaries of this operating model shift between business and technology, to move beyond adoption and into orchestration,” said Ranjit Bawa, U.S. chief strategy and technology officer at Deloitte, in the report. “The tech C-suite is often leading efforts to scale AI responsibly, unlock new efficiencies and creating new business value.”
To reap the rewards promised by AI applications, organizations will need to enable seamless collaboration between C-suite leaders — particularly those tasked with data, security and technology.
More than one-third of respondents intend to focus on coordinating strategy with fellow IT leaders in the next 18 months, according to Deloitte.
Though C-suite leaders agree on the need for collaboration amid AI efforts, stakeholders often disagree on the ideal approach. Executives are split on whether innovation, responsibility or a balanced approach should be the priority, according to an NTT Data report published in February.
Together with their C-suite counterparts, CIOs can help integrate business strategy, talent and innovation, according to Anjali Shaikh, U.S. CIO Program experience director and managing director at Deloitte Consulting.
“As they strive to shape value, align cross-functional teams and lead their organizations through rapid disruption, the opportunity going forward lies in their ability to rethink talent, operating models, ways of working, and delivery models,” Shaikh said in the report.
