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Summary of Core Competencies of C-Level Executives, CIO
Collected Bibliography [Documents in shared folder “Library>Leadership Core Competencies]
1 Beatty, Robert C., Kirk P. Arnett & Chang Liu, “CIO/CTO Job Roles: An Emerging Organizational Model,”
Communications of the IIMA Volume 5 Issue 2, 2005.
2“Benchmark Your Executive Leadership Skills” CIO Executive Council, Fri, May 01, 2009
<http://www.cio.com/article/491472/Benchmark_Your_Executive_Leadership_Skills>
3 Bernard, Allen. “New Roles, New Responsibilities: Today's CIO,” CIO Update: Feb 3, 2005.
4 Dai, Guangrong, King Yii Tang, Kenneth P. De Meuse “THE LEADERSHIP ARCHITECT® 2009 GLOBAL
NORMS Report I: Competency Norms and Analysis” Korn/Ferry International, October 2009.
5 Groysberg, Boris L., Kevin Kelly, and Bryan MacDonald. “The New Path to the C-Suite” Harvard
Business Review Magazine, March 2011. <http://hbr.org/2011/03/the-new-path-to-the-csuite/ar/1>
6 Kelner, Steve and Chris Patrick. “Your Leadership Portfolio: Developing the Competencies of a FutureState,” www.cio.com, April 12, 2010.
<CIOhttp://www.cio.com/article/590603/Your_Leadership_Portfolio_Developing_the_Competencies_of
_a_Future_State_CIO_?page=1&taxonomyId=3174>
7 Leslie, J.B., Chandrasekar, A., & Barts, D. (2009) Leadership Gap Indicator. Greensboro, NC: Center for
Creative Leadership.
8 Orr, J. Evelyn and Kathleen Sack. “Setting the Stage for Success: Building the Leadership Skills that
Matter,” Korn/Ferry International, 2009. < www.lominger.com/pdf/LA_article_web.pdf>
9 Rubenstrunk, Karen and Mark Polansky, “In the Age of Agility, Chief Information Officicers are Agents
of Change and Business Transformation” Korn/Ferry International, 2008.
<http://www.kornferryinstitute.com/files/pdf1/ITwhitepaperfinal.pdf>
Full text available for purchase only (info from book summaries included below)
10 Spitze, James, Judith J. Lee. “The Renaissance CIO Project: The Invisible Factors of Extraordinary
Success,” California Management Review, Feb 01, 2012. For future reading
11 Waller, Graham, Karen Rubenstrunk, George Hallenbeck. CIO Edge: Seven Leadership Skills You Need
to Drive Results. Harvard Business Press Books Nov 11, 2010, 256 pages.
Normative Data
 Leadership Architect Norms 2009 –I took data on key leadership skills (possessed) and skills
deemed most important, and sorted for “Executives” See Spreadsheet “Lominger Data on
Executives”
 CCL has normative data for purchase, (pdf document)
Key Themes
 Changing Role of Executives 5,8
- Leadership skills and a strong grasp of business fundamentals have become more
important than technical and functional expertise. 5
- Certain leadership competencies are increasing or decreasing in importance and skill level
in the current economic climate. 8
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
Changing role of CIO, in Particular 1,3,5,6,9,10
- “With increased visibility and importance being given to the CIO position, there has also
come a corresponding increase in new job responsibilities and accountabilities. The CIO of
today is required to both serve as high- level corporate liaison and manager between the
organization's business functions and the IS function, and also to make far reaching
technical and infrastructure systems decisions that will impact the future success of the
business.” 1
- “According to a recent Meta Group study leading CIOs are playing dramatically more
influential business roles than they have at any time in the past. The study's findings reveal
a new class of CIOs -- executives that recognize the new demands of the position and are
committed to being enterprise change-agents.” 3
“In response to the lack of business savvy among the IT [directors], a new position
evolved—CIO. The CIO was a senior executive who understood not only new technologies
but also how they applied to business strategy.” 5
“Outstanding CIOs most resemble outstanding CEOs.” 6
- “Then, as IT Senior Leaders advance to the C level, there is a sharp shift beyond good
management competencies, such as Team Leadership, into more organizational alignment
competencies, such as Change Leadership, and business-focused competencies such as
Commercial Orientation, which is identifying and seizing on business opportunities.” 6
- “Today’s CIOs are increasingly assuming leadership roles in company operations and now
in the creation of new products and services and the discovery of new markets.” 9
Key Skills cited for C-Suite Executives
Strategic thinking
Change management
Collaboration
Business acumen
“Soft skills”
Communication
Customer focus
Leadership
Results orientation
Most Cited Skills for C-Level Executives
Most Cited Skills for the “New CIO”
Strategic thinking: perspective, planning, Managing Strategic thinking: Strategic orientation, Make
Vision and Purpose, Priority setting 4,5,7,8
strategic contributions, Ability to view the business
holistically, across functional, unit, and regional
boundaries 1,2,5,6,9
“Soft skills”: empathy, ability to build trust, ethics,
Change management: change leadership 1,2,3,6,9
integrity Motivating Others, Inspiring commitment
4,5,7,8,11
Collaboration: team-oriented, team building
Developing People 1,2,6,11
4,5,7,11
Change management: Innovation Management 7,8 Collaboration: Collaborative, team leadership,
3,6,9,11
Communication: strong communication skills 5,11
Business acumen: business focus, Commercial
orientation, market knowledge, 1,3,6,9
Learning on the Fly, quick learner 7,8
Functional expertise, Information analytics
knowledge 5,6,9
Decision Quality, problem solving, dealing with
ambiguity 4,8
“Soft skills”: Forge personal connections, internal
relationships “embrace your softer side”
influencing, inspiring, building consensus 6,9,11
Customer Focus, 4,6
Communication: master communication,
communicate core message and values, horizontal
communication, cut across traditional boundaries
9,11
Customer Focus 2,6
Leadership: Leading employees, Managerial
Courage 7, 8
Business acumen, Commercial Orientation, Market
knowledge 4, 6
Drive for results, 4
Creativity 8
Leadership, commitment to 11
Results orientation 6
Process orientation and comfort with organizational
design 5
Skills most cited, sorted by the number of articles that mentioned that skill. Skills cited for both C-Suite
executives and CIO’s specifically are in bold.