Fractional CIO

A Fractional CIO is an experienced, multi-faceted senior technology executive professional who serves as the part-time chief information officer (CIO) for organizations that otherwise could not afford or would not need a full time executive.

  • Independent - On your side and in it for the long term; vendor agnostic; trusted advisor
  • Strategic - Work strategically yet deliver reality
  • Experience - Experienced technology executive leaders; multi-company/industry perspective
  • Business-focused - Business drivers feed technology
  • Liaison - Make your technology suppliers/outsourcing and staff work successfully
  • Value – Increase agility; fractional and flexibility cost
  • Return - Align technology spending with business objectives, define and measure ROI
  • Reduce Risk – Temporary to long-term in your control

Fractional CIO Role and Responsibilities

Businesses need a senior technology leader who understands the business objectives and provide technology direction to support those objectives. Our technology leaders are both visionary and pragmatic. It is not enough to plan for innovation, we are perceptive and realistic. As insightful leaders we prompt a broad technology agenda to help your business profit from leading-edge technologies. At the same time as a pragmatist, we deal with the realities of the business. As pragmatist we facilitate the productivity of current technology solutions. We minimize cost and maximize results and technology ROI. 

The following are typical responsibilities of the Fractional CIO.

  • IT and business strategies alignment
  • IT leadership and management
  • Key performance metrics definition
  • Performance status reports
  • ROI evaluation and budgeting
  • Resource management
  • Service provider partnerships management
  • IT and business risk management
  • Business processes design and optimization
  • IT technology standards definition
  • IT governance
  • IT security and compliance management
  • Contract review and negotiate
  • Board advisor

A Fractional CIO is an experienced, multi-faceted senior technology executive professional who serves as the part-time chief information officer (CIO) or chief technology officer (CTO) for organizations that otherwise could not afford or would not need a full time executive. The key business benefit of retaining a Fractional CIO is that they provide the same expertise and capability of a full-time CIO without the associated level of salary, benefits and overhead expense associated with adding a top level executive. Fractional CIOs typically serve several companies and manage the day-to-day IT operations, resources and staff. When not on-site, we are still working, still available, still thinking about what you need and how to get it for you.

Strategic Viewpoint – A significant advantage of having a CIO is that you now have a single point of contact and a person solely responsible for designing a technology strategy and the infrastructure and applications that will meet your business goals. Because the technology leader is an integral part of your executive team, the technology strategy and roadmap will closely align with your business needs and drivers and allow your business to be competitive and productive.

Information Resource – A CIO typically brings years of experience and a wealth of information to your organization. Whether it is determining the best technology strategy, infrastructure strategy, educating you on how to utilize social media to grow business, or explaining how cloud computing may be right for you, your CIO provides leadership and vision.

Business Liaison – Working closely with both the business side of your business and the technology side, your CIO helps ensure that the business drivers and needs are being met by your current and future technology strategy. Your CIO can translate business speak into technology terms and also explain technology solutions in layman’s terms. This allows both the business and technology teams to understand goals, technology, and business drivers.

ROI – A Fractional CIO can help align technology spending with business objectives. The Fractional CIO can also help to measure technology expenses against, maintain budgets, define ROI (Return on Investment) baselines, and help your business decide which technology projects, services, or applications will meet your business needs and what the return on investment will be.

Experience – With a Fractional CIO you get an expert team capable of providing a broader spectrum of experience across many technologies – eliminating the need for you to support a staff trained in multiple disciplines.