How Newly Appointed CIOs Take Charge: The Critical First Two Years

The transition for any executive into a new appointment is a challenge. This transition for the newly appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) is especially so given the breadth of their responsibilities. The CIO not only manages the delivery of IT services and projects but must be viewed as a legitimate business leader in order to influence strategic decision-making. This study explores the experience of CIOs taking charge of a new appointment. It integrates concepts from leader socialization and role theory with CIO leadership challenges. The data is based on in depth interviews with twenty one CIOs representing nineteen industries. The findings suggest that CIOs experience three overlapping phases of taking charge: entry, stabilization and renewal. These phases result in confidence, credibility and legitimacy as a new leader in the organization. The data further reveals that the organizational situation encountered by the CIO is a significant influence on the taking charge process. In particular, transition type- start-up, turnaround, realignment or success-sustaining – impact the process as well as determining whether the appointment is an ‘insider ’ or an ‘outsider. ’ The study suggests that CIOs experience organizational socialization in two domains of leadership. These domains are supply-side and demand-side leadership with the data indicating that supply-side socialization occurs first