Reference #299: Empowered

Mon Apr 25 2022 • product leadership empowered

The role of a CIO (or Head of IT) differs greatly from the role of a CTO (or Head of Engineering). While a CTO leads a product engineering organisation that should serve the customer, a CIO is there to serve the business.

This is not to say the role of a CIO or IT is not important or difficult. Rather, IT and engineering are different function.

Having a product engineering group report to a CIO is symptomatic of a weak product organisation. Aim to retitle the CIO to CTO if they up to the challenge of that role, or hire a true CTO.

Cagan, Jones. Empowered, 2021. (15-16)

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