The Evolving Role of the The Evolving Role of the Higher Education CIO Higher Education CIO (Polymath)(Polymath)

A Report on the Research Conducted for a Dissertation at A Report on the Research Conducted for a Dissertation at The University of PennsylvaniaThe University of Pennsylvania

Jerry DeSanto, Ed.D.Jerry DeSanto, Ed.D.VP for Planning and CIOVP for Planning and CIOThe University of ScrantonThe University of Scranton

Why Study This Topic?Why Study This Topic?

Other ReasonsOther ReasonsFew Current Studies Focused on The

CIO Profession and How the Role is Changing

The Level of Hyper-Change in the IT Industry Over the Last Five Years

The Current Volatile State of the Higher Education Industry and the Impact on Each of Our Campuses

My Own Professional Experience While on This Journey

Study Process StepsStudy Process StepsFormulation of Research Question(s)Literature ReviewDevelopment of Research

MethodologyPilot Study2011 LBCIO Survey of CIOsQualitative StudyAnalysis and SynthesisFindings and Conclusions

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

1. How is the evolving role of the higher education CIO being impacted by the following IT/Higher Education industry forces:Consumerization, The Cloud, Virtualization, IT Security, and Budget Constraints2. Will the role remain viable into the foreseeable future, and will it tend to be more strategic or operational?

Research MethodologyResearch MethodologyMixed Methods:

2011 LBCIO SurveyApproximately 200 CIO RespondentsAdded 16 Questions to Support ResearchTwo Pronged Approach. The Survey Informed

the Interview Questions. The Survey Results Informed the Findings and Conclusions

Qualitative InterviewsEight (8) Higher Education CIOsEight (8) Senior officers at Same InstitutionGender, Years as CIO/Senior Officer,

Institution Type Diversity SoughtProtocols were Different

No. GenderCIO Tenure

(Years) Carnegie Class Public/PrivateStudent

Headcount

1 Male 9Bachelor Diverse

Small Private 1,775

2 Male 2 Masters Large Private 3,300

3 Female 2 RU/VH Research Private 7,000

4 Female 5 RU/VH Research Private 25,000

5 Male 10 Master Large Public 8,300

6 Male 11 Masters Large Public 12,500

7 Female 35

Two-Year Community College

Large Public 30,000

8 Female 5 Masters Large Private 6,200

Characteristics of Interviewed Higher Education CIOs

Characteristics of Interviewed Senior OfficersCharacteristics of Interviewed Senior Officers

No. Gender Carnegie Class Discipline

1 Female Bachelor Diverse Small Academics

2 Female Masters Large President

3 Female RU/VH Research Student Affairs

4 Male RU/VH Research Human Resources

5 Female Masters Large Academics

6 Male Masters Large Advancement

7 FemaleTwo-Year Community

College Large Enrollment Management

8 Male Masters Large Finance

Relevant FindingsRelevant Findings Consumerization The Cloud Security, Risk

Management & Compliance

Service is still King

Seat at the Cabinet Table

Reporting Lines Strategic, Yes CIO as Informaticist TraitsIn the qualitative

study there were no discernible differences in CIOs by size, type of University or by years in the CIO role

Synthesis Higher Education CIO Trait BucketsSynthesis Higher Education CIO Trait Buckets

HIGHER EDUCATION CIO

LeadershipBusiness Higher

Education

 

 

 

TechnicalInterpersonal

Non-FindingsNon-Findings VirtualizationA wonderful

technology development that has resulted in greater efficiencies, staff productivity, and facilitated more flexible service offerings---but isn’t impacting the evolution of the role.

Budget ConstraintsCIOs in higher education

have been dealing with budget constraints seemingly forever. It appears to be the nature of doing business in this space. Thus, the current economic downturn triggering tighter budgets is not impacting the role in any special way.

Findings I didn’t Anticipate Findings I didn’t Anticipate aka Emergent Ideas to aka Emergent Ideas to ExploreExploreThe Female Higher Education CIO The Issues of Honesty, Integrity

and TrustValue Creation Revenue

Generation?Higher Education CIOs that

Immigrate from Other Industries

The Female Higher The Female Higher Education CIOEducation CIOProportion rose to about 25% and then

leveled offWhy are these numbers not increasing?Legacy of Engineering, Computer

Science?The “All Boys” Club?Lack of Ambition or interest?Female CIOs appear to be doing great

work and are particularly well suited to the role

Honesty, Integrity, and Honesty, Integrity, and TrustTrustA theme I repeatedly heard,

especially from other senior officersWhy?Amount of $$$$ involvedThe focus on data security and the

value of the data assetThe recognition of the CIO as a key

member of senior leadership on campus

Value CreationValue CreationRevenue Revenue GenerationGenerationIn the for-profit sector CIOs more

commonly are asked to contribute towards revenue generation

In higher education this doesn’t hold true

HE CIOs are largely expected to create value in other ways, principally through process improvement, CRM strategies, and teaching and learning innovation

Higher Education CIOs who Higher Education CIOs who Immigrate from Other Immigrate from Other IndustriesIndustriesCIOs entering Higher Education

from other industries come with a different mindset and perspective

It would be interesting to explore the comparison of the born and bred higher education CIO vs. their counterpart who has migrated from the for-profit world.

Higher Education CIO Role Research Questions Higher Education CIO Role Research Questions Conclusion MatrixConclusion Matrix

Key External Influencers  

Key Evolving Functions

 

 

IT Consumerization Shift from standards culture to personalized culture

The CloudShift from on-campus data centers and capital

purchasing to contracted services

IT SecurityShift from openness and sharing to privacy,

compliance, and risk mitigation

   

Factors ImpactingRole Relevance

Role Relevance in Action

Adding Value Operational efficiencies to strategic contributions

Cabinet Seat Facilitates contributions to strategic discussions

Reporting Lines Entre to cabinet seat and strategic involvement

Was Nicolas Carr Right about Was Nicolas Carr Right about the Extinction of the CIO the Extinction of the CIO Role?Role?Perhaps….But, not if higher education CIOs

figure out ways of adding value at a strategic level

To be part of the strategic conversations CIOs must be seated at the Cabinet table

But, they don’t have to report to the President

Higher Education CIO Role EvolutionHigher Education CIO Role Evolution

Catalyst Former Roles Evolving

Consumerization Standards Architect Enabler

  Rule Enforcer Facilitator

  Hardware/Software Procurer Educator

 

   

The Cloud Manager of people, things, places Matchmaker

  Recruiter and procurer of the physical

Broker/Intermediary

  All powerful IT decision-maker Contract Negotiator

  Controller of all IT finances Service ProcurerIntegrator

   

Information Security Password Controller IT legal expert and consultant

  Enforcer of responsible computing behavior

Risk assessor and mitigator

  Grants access Maintainer of balance points

    (risks vs. function)

Synthesis Portrait of the Higher Education CIOSynthesis Portrait of the Higher Education CIO1992 1992 2012 and Beyond 2012 and Beyond

Dominant Dominant

Build Share

Spend Optimize

Technical Well-rounded

Physical Virtual

Obscure Visible

Consumption Bracketed

Functional Value-Added

User-centric Customer-centric

Operational Strategic

Manager Leader

1992 2012 and Beyond

Full Study Available at http://www.lbcio.org

Questions and Comments