CIO Timeshare

With the rapid evolution of information technology, the management of the information system, the choice of technologies, tools, suppliers or even IT service providers are not always obvious for SMEs. In large companies, these choices are the responsibility of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), also known as IT Director. The CIO anticipates, analyzes and proposes the main strategic choices in terms of IT while respecting the overall strategy of the company. He ensures the smooth running of operations.

The cost related to a CIO function in a large company being significant, the company CIO-PME offers the possibility for SMEs to access it at a more affordable price, by offering CIO services on a timeshare basis to support and advise SME managers in their IT choices. By taking charge of IT problems in an operational manner, the CIO-PME company allows the manager of the company to focus on his core business.

An SME can therefore call on a CIO a few days a month, for example. It can benefit from the experience of a CIO working for other SMEs, with of course the assurance of the confidentiality of the information specific to each SME. In addition, it benefits from the pooling of training, skills, knowledge and technological intelligence from a CIO shared by several SMEs.

The savings made by each SME are therefore significant while benefiting from an experienced CIO.

The role of the timeshare CIO is to cover all facets of the function, even if it may only intervene for a part of them according to the needs of each SME.

The main activities covered by the CIO in timeshare are, without being exhaustive:

  • Propose and operationalize the company’s IT strategy
  • Manage and / or optimize the information system
  • Manage and / or optimize IT budgets and contracts
  • Establish specifications
  • Help in choosing and monitoring IT suppliers and service providers
  • Manage IT projects
  • Help with the choice and configuration of IT solutions / software
  • Be the interface with the trades and drive change
  • Advise / monitor IT staff and / or IT interns
  • Help recruit IT staff

The presence of a CIO in an SME also makes it possible to give the latter a certain independence towards its service providers or IT suppliers.

Finally, the presence of a timeshare CIO in an SME is not at all incompatible with the presence of an IT manager. The CIO can thus usefully advise the IT manager in his choices but also temporarily take over certain activities to relieve him.