Information Systems in Organizations - Principles of Information Systems - page 71

Typical IS Titles and Functions
The organizational chart shown in Figure 2.10 is a simplified model of an IS department in
a typical medium-sized or large organization. Many organizations have even larger depart-
ments, with increasingly specialized positions such as librarian or quality assurance manager.
Smaller firms often combine the roles shown in Figure 2.10 into fewer formal positions.

The Chief Information Officer
The role of the chief information officer (CIO) is to employ an IS department's equipment
and personnel to help the organization attain its goals. 63 The CIO is usually a vice president
concerned with the overall needs of the organization, and sets corporate-wide policies and
plans, manages, and acquires information systems. In one survey, more than 60 percent of
CIOs reported directly to the president of the company or the chief executive officer
(CEO). 64 Some of the CIO's top concerns include integrating IS operations with corporate
strategies, keeping up with the rapid pace of technology, and defining and assessing the value
of systems development projects. According to a survey, almost 80 percent of CIOs are
actively involved in or consulted on most major decisions. 65 Tom Shelman, CIO for
Northrop Grumman Corporation, for example, changed his job description to be more
strategic, meet with customers, and to help win new business. 66
The high level of the CIO position reflects that information is one of the organization's
most important resources. A CIO works with other high-level officers of an organization,
including the chief financial officer
(CFO) and the chief executive officer
(CEO), in managing and controlling
total corporate resources. CIOs must
also work closely with advisory com-
mittees, stressing effectiveness and
teamwork and viewing information
systems as an integral part of the or-
ganization's business processes—not
an adjunct to the organization. Thus,
CIOs need both technical and busi-
ness skills. The CIO is also becoming
more involved with the customers of
their company. 67 According to Tom
Gosnell, CIO and senior vice presi-
dent at CUNA Mutual Group,
“Helping customers to become suc-
cessful is very much the job of today's
IT department.” For federal agen-
cies, the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 requires that a CIO coordinate the purchase and
management of information systems.
Depending on the size of the IS department, several people might work in senior IS
managerial levels. Some job titles associated with IS management are the CIO, vice president
of information systems, manager of information systems, and chief technology officer
(CTO). A central role of all these people is to communicate with other areas of the organi-
zation to determine changing needs. Often these employees are part of an advisory or steering
committee that helps the CIO and other IS managers make decisions about the use of in-
formation systems. Together they can best decide what information systems will support
corporate goals. The CTO, for example, typically works under a CIO and specializes in
networks and related equipment and technology.

A company's CIO is usually a vice
president who sets corporate-wide
policies, and plans, manages, and
acquires information systems.
(Source: © Click Productions/Getty
Images.)

LAN Administrators
Local area network (LAN) administrators set up and manage the network hardware, software,
and security processes. They manage the addition of new users, software, and devices to the
network. They also isolate and fix operations problems. LAN administrators are in high
demand and often solve both technical and nontechnical problems.