The Role of the CTO in a Growing Organization

The Role of the CTO in a Growing Organization

Roger Smith

US Army PEO STRI

[email protected]

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.