This document discusses the role of the Chief Digital Officer (CDO) in leading a company's digital transformation. It notes that the CDO helps convert traditional businesses to digital ones using online technologies and data. The responsibilities of a CDO are varied but generally involve overseeing digital consumer experiences and leading the process of digital transformation across the entire business. The document also cautions against common pitfalls in digital transformation such as treating the CDO role as only technology-focused or designing transformation without understanding the business.

1. To CDO
OR
Not To CDO
Elias Gagas
elias.gagas@digitowl.ltd

2. › The “Digitization” of
Businesses follows the ongoing
“Digitization” of our daily
lives
› The “Digital Consumer/Customer”
journey has become
substantially more complex &
fragmented
› In parallel the “Digital
Company” has been adopting
“Digital” tools & introducing
“Digital” skills to respond to
the rapidly changing ecosystem

3. Window Shopping

4. Online Shopping

5. Opinions / Ideas Exchange

6. Social Media / chat / messaging

7. The Great Digital Divide / Gap

8. There’s no “Digital Strategy” anymore,
just Strategy in a Digital World
Digital & Technology are frequently used interchangeably

9. Technology allows us to be:
› Faster
› Cheaper
› Optimize / Streamline existing business
models
› Explore new business models (Disruption)

10. Business Technology
CDO

11. CDO role according to Wikipedia
› A Chief Digital Officer (CDO) or a Chief Digital Information Officer
(CDIO) is an individual who helps a company, a government organization or
a city drive growth by converting traditional "analog" businesses to
digital ones using the potential of modern online technologies and data,
and at times oversees operations in the rapidly changing digital sectors
like mobile applications, social media and related applications, virtual
goods, as well as "wild" web-based information management and marketing.
› The responsibilities of an organization's CDO are varied and still
evolving as the future of a CIO for digital businesses. The CDO is not
only a digital expert, but may also be a seasoned general manager. As the
role frequently is transformational, CDOs generally are responsible for
the adoption of digital technologies across a business. As with most
senior executive titles, the responsibilities are set by the
organization's board of directors or other authority, depending on the
organization's legal structure. The CDO is responsible not just for
digital consumer experiences across all business touch points, but also
for the whole process of digital transformation.

12. • CxO evolution
Source: PWC

13. › The newest member in the C-
suite evolution is the Chief
Digital Officer (CDO)
› CDO could be viewed as an
interim / transitional role
(although the transition might
be lengthy…)
› At present this role is usually
bridging the gap between a CEO
& the multidisciplinary
technology projects required to
be successful in today’s
Digital World
› The CxO of the future (&
present) should be
encapsulating the skills of a
CDO!!!

14. Source: Deloitte
Convergence of Corporate Strategy & the CDO

15. Source: Deloitte
The CDO enhances the rest of the C-Suite

16. The CDO is a “Purple” person

17. The CDO should actively participate in the
“New Ideas” process

18. The Six Stages of Digital Transformation
Source: Prophet

19. › Back to the basics – Know Thy Business
› Visualize your core value chain
› Map digital / technology across it
› Prioritize according to value generated potential
› It’s all about the business!!! Digital / Technology is the tool – the means
to an end
› Select a CDO to complement your existing team
› Give your CDO the authority to push / produce Change
Recipe for Success

20. › CTO = CDO (depends on the person + you still need a separate CTO)
› CDO = technology only. The role is not separate from business, but rather closely
interwoven with it
› CDO = Glorified Project Manager
› Design Digital Transformation by Committee
› Expect Digital Transformation to be painless…
› Design & Execute Digital Transformation in a “Digital Innovation Silo”, without
any feedback / knowledge of the actual, day-to-day work environment.
Accident waiting to happen