To whom does the CIO report? In many organizations, it’s usually the CFO — a fact that can have significant implications for how IT performs its functions.
That’s the conclusion drawn by research firm Gartner and the Financial Executives Research Foundation, the educational affiliate of the Financial Executives International, an industry association. The two groups found that more companies have IT reporting to the CFO, who in many cases plays a critical role in determining IT investment as a result. But sometimes, the setup can lead to inefficiencies. CIO Update takes a look.
The CFO is becoming the top IT decision maker in many organizations, according to a joint survey conducted by Gartner and Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF). According to the annual study, 2010 Gartner FEI Technology Study: The CFO as Technology Influencer, more IT organizations report to the CFO than the CEO or any other executive.
“Where the CIO should report is a question as old as the CIO role itself,” said John Van Decker, research vice president at Gartner, in a statement. “CFO reporting can lead to success if the CFO has a deep understanding of IT’s value.”
