The boss is finally listening to the federal CIO

It's been a long time coming, but Federal CIOs now report to the top or second ranking official at their agency, according to a survey by TechAmerica, an IT industry association. Being unable to have one's voice heard by the top decision makers at an agency has been one of the highest complaints by IT executives, especially CIOs.

But the people in power have heard these complaints. This survey by the organization formed by the Merger of the Information Technology Association of America and AEA found remarkable progress. Among the findings reported in NextGov article:

• 90 percent, of the 54 CIOs from civilian and defense agencies, answered to top executives in 2008.
• 38 percent reported to the secretary or bureau chief, and 50 percent to the deputy secretary.
• This shift is noteworthy. In 2005 and 2006 only 4 percent of CIOs said they reported to CFOs.

"This year, none of respondents [said they] are reporting to CFOs," said Paul Wohlleben, a partner at Grant Thornton LLP, the consulting firm that partnered with TechAmerica to conduct the survey.

The survey results shed a great deal of light on the changing role of federal CIOs. However, the gap needs to shrink even further for the CIO to have an impact on an agency's strategic direction, Wohlleben told NextGov.

"When you look at broader [leadership needs] that include a seat at the table and ability to get the agency to move [on IT initiatives], there are a lot more challenges," he said.

For more on the changing role of the Federal CIO:
- check out this NextGov.com article