The new technical paradigm: the enhanced role of chief information officers

Abstract

Summary form only given. In today's business environment organizations, particularly those operating internationally, must deal with a wide range of situations that require new information, and new or extended technologies for providing that information. Factors, such as local, regional, national and global requirements, international law, and technology transfer significantly impact current development and deployment of information systems. The chief information officer (CIO), a relatively new corporate position at the higher levels of the management hierarchy, is a key, if not the key, individual in the development and administration of the methodology for meeting those requirements. In a survey a selected group of CIOs was surveyed regarding their experiences with global information systems. For purposes of the survey, the systems were referred to as global common systems and were defined as those that were implemented by an organization in multiple countries or in multiple domestic locations supporting international users, that enhance global business strategy, and that feature commonality across at least on of the following: core functions, technical platform, user interface, and database design. The survey was designed to examine company practices in deploying and supporting global common systems; to ascertain how common and widespread these system implementations have become; and what methods, practices and issues were encountered during their development. Both North American and European companies were surveyed.