The role of the chief information officer (CIO) is undergoing another significant transformation. No longer limited to overseeing systems and operations, today’s CIO is a central strategic partner, guiding businesses through rapid technological and operational change.

This strategic role means more than just keeping systems running, it means helping businesses keep pace with accelerating demands. To deliver real value, CIOs must enable agility, innovate with emerging technologies, and build capabilities quickly, securely, and effectively.

To rise to the challenge, CIOs must continually assess how their IT strategies align with business goals. At Two Roads, we believe asking the right questions is the first step. These five key questions can help CIOs ensure technology becomes a true driver of business success—now and into the future.

Are we prioritizing the right investments?

With a vast array of promising technologies available, the question isn’t what to invest in, but where investment will drive the most value. The CIO’s job is to cut through the noise and focus on technologies that create measurable business outcomes.

Rather than pursuing every exciting idea, CIOs must evaluate each investment in terms of potential ROI, immediate cost savings, and long-term growth. It’s a balancing act: pursuing innovation while also allocating resources for the maintenance of essential systems.

What’s Holding Us Back From Delivering Value Faster?

CIOs must analyze both the details and the big picture to identify bottlenecks in delivering technology solutions. Success means improving delivery speed and effectiveness, without compromising quality or security.

One of the most effective ways to accelerate delivery is by fostering deeper collaboration between IT and business teams. Tight integration helps ensure alignment, reduces rework, and streamlines implementation—resulting in faster time to value.

Can we scale to meet growing business demands?

Scalability is no longer optional, it’s foundational. As business needs change, IT must be ready to respond with flexible, scalable solutions that empower decision-makers and support growth.

Cloud platforms, automation tools, and adaptive infrastructure are essential elements in a CIO’s toolkit. These solutions not only enable scalability, but also increase agility—now a critical competitive advantage. The most effective technology strategies aren’t just powerful; they’re responsive and resilient.

How Are We Managing the Complexity of Modern Solutions?

As organizations expand their digital footprint, solution complexity grows in parallel. CIOs are often at the center of intricate projects that span multiple systems, teams, and external vendors. To manage this complexity without creating roadblocks, CIOs must focus on:

• Early governance to prevent architectural sprawl
• Clear communication across all stakeholders
• Built-in security and compliance, not bolted on at the end
  

Complexity is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to slow progress. With the right structure, CIOs can manage complexity and still deliver rapid value.

Is our technology environment protected and resilient enough from outside threats?

With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, resilience must be a top priority. According to KPMG Cyber Trust Insights 2022, 60% of companies report that their supply chains expose them to cyber risk.

To stay ahead, CIOs need a proactive approach—assessing risk across the entire IT ecosystem, building adaptive security architecture, and developing disaster recovery plans that are not just written, but tested and actionable.

Resilience isn’t just about protection—it’s about maintaining trust and continuity in the face of inevitable disruption.

Enabling Change Through Strategic Partnership

CIOs have a unique opportunity to lead meaningful business transformation. By asking the right questions and aligning technology strategy with the organization’s pace and goals, they can become indispensable partners to the business.

At Two Roads, we help CIOs navigate this evolution. As your strategic advisor, we guide you through the digital-first landscape with tailored, proactive IT strategies designed for both short-term wins and long-term success.

Ready to drive change? Contact us to learn how we can partner with you on your transformation journey.

Scott Chiou is a technology leader and founding partner of Two Roads Consulting, one of the fastest-growing management consulting firms in North Texas. With over 25 years of experience, Scott has deep expertise in structuring large transformation programs, operating model design, and organizational change.

Two Roads is a management consulting firm focused on helping some of the largest organizations in North Texas tackle complex business and technology challenges. The firm has served Dallas-Fort Worth since 2015 with an experienced, local team with expertise in strategy, planning, organization, process, and technology.

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.