CTO

Every organization has a hierarchy. The mom-and-pop café down the street might consist of dad at the grill, mom running the cash register, and the kids doing whatever they’re told. But larger companies require greater depth in the chain of command. It’s not only about who you report to, but also what aspect of the company you specialize in.

A CTO (Chief Technology Officer) ranks pretty high on the totem pole. With the title comes a lot of responsibility. That’s because the CTO is in charge of planning the future technology for the entire company.

Your goal as CTO is to have the fastest, newest, most efficient technology that will blow the competition out of the water. Of course, the newest and best are expensive, so you’re ever vigilant about the corporate wallet.

When you see new software that will allow more effective customer profiling, or a phone system that will let executives manage conference calls via the internet, cell phone, or other equipment yet undiscovered, your first goal is to make sure it applies to your company. Will employees use the resource? Is it cost-effective? Have the glitches been worked out or should you wait a year?

These are all important questions, because as a CTO, you consider changes well into the future. While the CIO (Chief Information Officer) is handling the day-to-day inner office access and security problems, you evaluate the newest technologies available and assess whether they will help achieve long- and short-term company goals.