Virtual CIO (Glossary Definition)

Tweet

 

Many companies find that using a virtual CIO, also called a fractional CIO, brings them all of the benefits of a CIO’s skillset without the extra expense and operational overhead that comes with creating a new senior management position.

Virtual CIOs are essentially contractors. They work on behalf of their clients’ companies, offering expertise in IT and leading projects on a strategic level. Although every situation is different, most virtual CIOs do not work on day-to-day issues.

This modern alternative to a full-fledged senior IT executive has plenty of advantages:

• Diverse Skills. The requirements for a virtual CIO are not different from those of a full-time CIO, and the parent company can expect deep insight into the future impact of IT on its business.

• Low Costs. This approach reduces cost enormously both by replacing a high salary with project-based or time-based fees, and by eliminating the need for full-time support staff that would almost always accompany the hiring of a senior executive of any specialization.

• Flexibility. It can be difficult to get rid of senior executives who prove to be problematic. By replacing them with contractors, it becomes easier to rotate them out and find someone with more skills or just a better attitude.  

Does your company have a virtual CIO? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below.

And to follow-through on the concepts introduced in this short glossary definition, download your free copy of the special report on How to Start a Computer Consulting Business: 6 Proven Ways to Build Your Initial Client Base.

Creative Commons Image Source: flickr Digital_Rampage