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_address] Approved for Public Release. Security and OPSEC Review Completed: No Issues. Infrastructure Executive Council Corporate Executive Board 1 February 2008

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.

Organization CTOs Studied

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

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

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

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

5 Patterns of the CTO Smith, R. (Nov-Dec 2007). “What CTOs Do?”. Research-Technology Management , 50(6). Genius Founder/Creator Product Innovation Director Scientist/Researcher Innovation Mgmt Executive Engineer/Scientist Strategic Management Administrator Manager/Accountant Efficient Deployment Advocate Service/User Customer Features Void No CTO No New Technology

CTO Responsibilities Smith, R. (Nov-Dec 2007). “What CTOs Do?”. Research-Technology Management , 50(6). Companies that could benefit from a technology leader, but who do not understand how such a position could be applied. Void 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. Advocate Strategic leader working with company executives to identify important technical trends in the future and how these will impact the company and the industry. Executive Manager of corporate research projects and investments. Handles the business aspects of a portfolio of different technologies that the company is pursuing. Director 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. Administrator 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. Genius Duties and Activities Pattern

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

GE’s Scott Donnelly

Senior VP for Global Technology

Power Turbines, Imaging Systems, Locomotives, Engines, Security Systems, Materials

Defined Mission:

Deliver Breakthrough Technology (R&D)

Leverage Core Technologies in Multiple Businesses (Energy, Medicine, Water, Engines, Security)

Drive Technology Across the Business (Lighting)

Infusing New Technology Value in Acquisitions (Financial Services)

Develop and Protect Intellectual Property (Mature Research Products)

CTOs Across Organization Phase Genius Envision, Create, & Champion the new opportunity Emergence Stabilization Expansion Dominance Administrator Optimize, Organize, & Staff for growth Administrator Manage product innovation Director Build research organization and target technologies Advocate Focus on competitive advantage of customer experience Executive Strategic innovation, research, and competitive position Organization Phase Director Focus research organization on future positioning

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 .