Experienced CTOs are constantly monitoring technology trends and take quantifiable actions, including testing before adoption

Today, most Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) agree that their role has become twofold, embracing both technical and managerial skills. Looking at the technical standpoint, a company's CTO is the tech visionary leader within a realm other C-level executives do not have easy access to.

That is why CTOs are also required to be able to foresee future technological changes to anticipate the needs a company might have and to embrace transformation rather than succumb to it.

An experienced Chief Technical Officer is constantly monitoring technological trends and takes quantifiable actions, including testing before adoption. Being an ICT expert is mandatory, of course, and includes a broad range of expertise in an ever-growing sector, which today includes cloud computing, DevOps, and artificial intelligence, with who knows what to come tomorrow.

Traditionally, CTOs have served different roles in companies with the former focused on traditional IT strategy and management and the latter on developing innovative new technology, external customer-facing IT, or custom software development. However, the research demonstrates that CTO roles have shifted and converged as a result of this increased focus on digital transformation, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital transformation remains at the top of the business agenda and organizations in every sector are grappling with the best way to embrace new technologies to stay ahead of their game. It is a critical issue for businesses with disruption being faced from all sides, and something that is only going to intensify as the relentless progress of technology marches on. The role of the CTO is at times all-encompassing.

A CTO takes on the role of the 'bridge builder' between the strictly technical components of a transformation strategy and how they can apply to people and processes in the specific context of an organization. Considering the managerial tasks required to become a CTO, today's Chief Technology Officer is a key guide for all main stakeholders.

With technology becoming a major enabler for businesses, the role of the CTO is evolving from technology expert to business strategist. With increasing expectations, CTOs today are facing unprecedented challenges to improve business outcomes, transform business models, modernize technology and enhance customer experience.

The CTO has specific technological insight and therefore they are directly involved in helping the entire organization identify where technical systems are simply obsolete and not fit for purpose so as well as being a bridge-builder, CTOs naturally lead the charge when dealing with a technology-led approach.

They explain where the value is in the application of a technological change in context. Too often we see visions that are de-contextualized from the reality on the ground. De-contextualized technological planning does not allow for realistic strategic planning.

With visions of the ambitious but feasible insight, it is then the whole leadership team's task to decide what course they are going to map out and to work together on the digital transformation journey. A CTO's normal job is to reroute processes to improve outcomes or adapt to changes and challenges. Their actions impact directly on the company's business goals and organization.