What Is the Role of the Modern CTO?

The role of the modern CTO has undergone a fundamental shift, moving away from a narrow focus on technical infrastructure toward a broader responsibility for organisational strategy. In a landscape where technological disruption is constant, the modern technology leader must look at the big picture to fully support and protect the business.

Recent global shifts have highlighted the fact that businesses can’t view technology in isolation. A technology strategy needs to align with the needs of the business. This in turn requires an appreciation of the greater forces at work, both on the business and the world at large, says Kevin Bloch – ​​former Cisco ANZ Chief Technology Officer and founder of corporate technology advisory firm Bloch Advisory.

“One of the roles of technology is to help meet business challenges and, these days, businesses are facing more challenges than ever, from every direction,” Bloch told Orro’s recent ‘Delivering Disruption’ virtual event. “Of course, it’s remiss for any technology officer to just deal in tech without having a good perspective of what’s happening in the world.”

Strategising for Resilience within the Role of the Modern CTO

Beyond the immediate disruption of lockdowns, Bloch says the ongoing trend of working from home and the hybrid workplace presents a range of business challenges going forward, from productivity to security. The security implications of managing a hybrid workforce is only one aspect of the growing cybersecurity threat, with cybercrime now costing USD $6 trillion in global damages per annum.

Beyond this disruption, climate change is set to have a much more significant long-term impact on businesses and economies than the pandemic. The push towards net-zero emissions presents business challenges and opportunities, while the wider fallout of climate change is set to cause political, economic and social disruption across the globe. The role of the modern CTO requires a lens that looks far beyond the server room to these macro-environmental shifts.

Likewise, the geopolitical implications of global influence are being felt far and wide, in every business sector. The modern CTO can’t ignore the changing trends in globalisation which are reshaping the business landscape. Aligning technology with these realities ensures that the organisation remains resilient in the face of supply chain volatility and regulatory changes.

Driving Growth: A Primary Objective in the Role of the Modern CTO

On the upside, the impact of recent years has seen large amounts of cash injected into the economy. This creates an environment which is ripe for investing in innovation, from clean energy and biotechnology to artificial intelligence and quantum computing. “We are sitting on technology which can help the world,” Bloch says. “Given the pace of innovation and disruption, companies today should be spending more than 25 per cent of their technology budget on their growth initiatives.”

This benchmark for growth is a key indicator of success within the role of the modern CTO. High-performing technology leaders are those who successfully move budgets away from maintenance toward initiatives that create new business value. For example, the pressures of the pandemic saw the health sector fast-track initiatives such as the online delivery of mental health services.

While these initiatives were designed to meet temporary challenges, they will be retained going forward in acknowledgement of their importance to both the business and patients, says Barbara Mackenzie – CTO with Healthscope. “The role of the modern CTO is not just about focusing on today’s technology and challenges, it’s also about forging foundations on which the business can build,” Mackenzie says.

Aligning Stakeholders with the Role of the Modern CTO

Likewise in the education sector, technology initiatives must align with business and education outcomes, says Tony Panetta – Chief Information Officer with Catholic Education WA.

“The role of the modern CTO needs to consider the stakeholders across the wider organisation, to ensure they are delivering everyone the best possible outcomes while minimising disruption,” Panetta says.

“At the same time, in education we need to fail forward, because every year it takes to introduce a new initiative is another school year that students are missing out on the benefits,” Panetta adds. This proactive stance ensures that technology is a driver of success rather than a bottleneck. Detailed research from McKinsey further supports this, indicating that technology leaders who act as business strategists drive significantly higher ROI than those who focus purely on technical delivery.

Ultimately, by mastering the role of the modern CTO, your organisation can turn technology from a support function into a competitive advantage. This strategic alignment is what separates market leaders from those who merely manage to keep the lights on. Orro is here to provide the expertise and infrastructure needed to help you navigate this transition and achieve long-term resilience.