The Role of the CTO in a Growing Organization
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The Role of the CTO in a Growing Organization
Roger Smith
US Army PEO STRI
roger.smith14@us.army.mil
Approved for Public Release. Security and OPSEC Review Completed: No Issues.
Infrastructure Executive CouncilCorporate Executive Board
1 February 2008
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CTO Practitioner Caveats
Perspective is influenced by personal activities and history in the CTO position
Constant information exchange with other CTOs leads to a practice-based perspective “To capture participants in their own terms one must learn their
categories for rendering explicable and coherent the flux of raw reality.” (Lofland, 1971)
Lofland, J. (1971). Analyzing social settings. Belmont, CA: Wodsworth; as quoted in Qualitative research and evaluation methods, by M. Patton, 2002.
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Organization CTOs Studied
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Chief Technology Officer
Definitions “A CTO’s job is to worry about technology in the future – because when
the future's here you won't have the time.” • Nathan Myhrvold, former CTO of Microsoft
“The CTO’s key tasks are not those of lab director writ large but, rather, of a technical businessperson deeply involved in shaping and implementing overall corporate strategy.”
• W.W. Lewis,
Origins of the CTO Business accountability for the Director of R&D.
• e.g. John Seely Brown, Xerox PARC Executive post for tech wizard in a start-up company.
• e.g. Steve Wozniak, Apple Computer Innovation champion in a large company.
• e.g. Peter Bridenbaugh, ALCOA
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CTO vs. CIO
•Technology Applied to
Company Products and
Services•Manage Scientists &
Innovators•Stimulate Creation of
New Products•Position Company for
Long-term Advantage
•IT Applied to Internal
Operations•Manage IT and Admin
Personnel•Reduce Costs of
Internal Transactions•Improve Short-term
Performance
•Company’s Technology is IT•Competitive Advantage Comes from IT Services
CTO CIO
Overlap
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US Army Simulation & Training
PRODUCTS
CONTRACTS
ADMIN
CTO Relationships and Resources:
•O6/GS15 Managers•Engineering Dept•CIO Shop•R&D Labs•Army Science Board•University Labs•Industry Research Orgs
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CTO Activities
Identify the Future power of new technologies Spread Technology within the business unit Create New Opportunity by applying technical
expertise to new projects Cross-Pollinate and Leverage technology across the
organization Build Community of technologists through vision,
mission, relationships, communication, partnership, friendship
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5 Patterns of the CTO
GeniusFounder/Creator
Product Innovation
DirectorScientist/ResearcherInnovation Mgmt
ExecutiveEngineer/Scientist
Strategic Management
AdministratorManager/AccountantEfficient Deployment
AdvocateService/User
Customer Features
VoidNo CTONo New Technology
Smith, R. (Nov-Dec 2007). “What CTOs Do?”. Research-Technology Management, 50(6).
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CTO Responsibilities
Pattern Duties and Activities
Genius Personally involved in the creation of new technology and its application to company products and services. Uses personal technical talent to direct and motivate the technical staff.
Administrator Guardian or watchdog over the organization’s selection and use of vendor technologies. Expertise with technologies is used to accurately evaluate vendor proposals and claims for their products.
Director Manager of corporate research projects and investments. Handles the business aspects of a portfolio of different technologies that the company is pursuing.
Executive Strategic leader working with company executives to identify important technical trends in the future and how these will impact the company and the industry.
Advocate Focused on the applications of technology to improve the experience of the customer. Leverage technology to create a competitive advantage for the company through its relationship with customers.
Void Companies that could benefit from a technology leader, but who do not understand how such a position could be applied.
Smith, R. (Nov-Dec 2007). “What CTOs Do?”. Research-Technology Management, 50(6).
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Pattern Examples
Genius: Sergey Brin, Google Turn a great idea into a great product
Director: Rita Schnipke, Blue Ridge Numerics PC-based CFD Software
Executive: Dawn Merrickson, Defense Information Systems Agency Standardize Computer Systems, Explore New Technology
Administrator: Melody Mayberry-Stewart, City of Cleveland Improve City Services using IT & Comms Equipment
Advocate: Rob Carter, Federal Express Customer’s Experience of FedEx Services
Void: Most Companies No Technology Creation, Consume Vendor Technologies
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GE’s Scott Donnelly
Senior VP for Global Technology Power Turbines, Imaging Systems, Locomotives, Engines,
Security Systems, Materials Defined Mission:
1. Deliver Breakthrough Technology (R&D)
2. Leverage Core Technologies in Multiple Businesses (Energy, Medicine, Water, Engines, Security)
3. Drive Technology Across the Business (Lighting)
4. Infusing New Technology Value in Acquisitions (Financial Services)
5. Develop and Protect Intellectual Property (Mature Research Products)
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CTOs Across Organization Phase
GeniusEnvision, Create, & Champion the new opportunity
Emergence Stabilization Expansion Dominance
AdministratorOptimize,
Organize, & Staff for growth
AdministratorManage product
innovation
DirectorBuild research
organization and target technologies
AdvocateFocus on competitive
advantage of customer experience
ExecutiveStrategic innovation,
research, and competitive position
Organization Phase
DirectorFocus research organization on
future positioning
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References
Smith, R. (Nov-Dec 2007). “What CTOs Do”. Research Technology Management, 50(6).
Smith, R. (July-Aug, 2003). “The Chief Technology Officer: Strategic Responsibilities and Relationships”. Research Technology Management, 46(4).
Christensen, C. (1997). The Innovators Dilemma: When new technologies cause great firms to fail. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Medcof, J. and Yousofpourfard, H. (May 2006). “The Chief Technology Officer and organizational power and influence”. Proceedings of the 2006 IAMOT Conference.
Adler, P. and Ferdows, K. (Spring 1990). “The Chief Technology Officer”. California Management Review.
Aspatore Editors. (2000). Inside the Minds of Chief Technology Officers. New York: Aspatore Books.
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