When you start talking about IT leadership roles and IT career tracks, the question that almost always comes up is “What’s the difference between the CIO and CTO positions?”
Here’s a quick breakdown of the distinguishing characteristics of those two roles.
CIO
· Serves as the company’s top technology infrastructure manager
· Runs the organization’s internal IT operations
· Works to streamline business processes with technology
· Focuses on internal customers (users and business units)
· Collaborates and manages vendors that supply infrastructure solutions
· Aligns the company’s IT infrastructure with business priorities
· Developers strategies to increase the company’s bottom line (profitability)
· Has to be a skilled and organized manager to be successful
CTO
· Serves as the company’s top technology architect
· Runs the organization’s engineering group
· Uses technology to enhance the company’s product offerings
· Focuses on external customers (buyers)
· Collaborates and manages vendors that supply solutions to enhance the company’s product(s)
· Aligns the company’s product architecture with business priorities
· Develops strategies to increase the company’s top line (revenue)
· Has to be a creative and innovative technologist to be successful
