Chief digital officer CDO

[edit] Introduction

Chief Digital Officer (CDO) or Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO), is a role that was defined for many larger companies in and around 2010 with the expansion of digitisation through smart phones, web applications and so on. It might be defined as a position that focusses on the relationship between people, processes and technology.

A CDO often works in tandem with a Chief Information Officer (CIO) who is responsible for an organisations internal information technology infrastructure and services. As digitisation expanded to many aspects of public and private life so to did the way buildings were operated and managed. Traditionally a caretaker may have kept a building in order for its users, and this role then become expanded by the more clearly defined role of Facilities Manager (FM), which included the management of technical systems found within buildings. A Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for larger organisations may liaise with both an FM and CIO, having a good grasp of technical and digital issues, however the role is considered broader, being the interface between digitisation, staff and clients, and as such it may also touch on User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design, innovation, entrepreneurship, and direct business engagement.

A related role is that of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) which is perhaps more concerned with the how of making a digital transformation relating to longer term tech strategies including infrastructure, engineering, design and management. It might be said that the CDO role is focussed more on the what and why of creating digital change, using digital tools, campaigns, and data values or strategies.

[edit] UK government definition

The UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework defines a Chief digital and information officer as one who "shapes and enables the delivery of the organisation’s strategy through digital, data and technology. They develop partnerships across the organisation to design and deliver better outcomes that make lives easier. In this role, (you) will:

• lead innovative strategies that deliver the organisation's objectives
• identify and act on the changing landscape of digital, data and technology
• enable the use of innovative approaches and emerging technologies whilst ensuring inclusivity, security and ethical practices
• oversee the delivery, management and maintenance of sustainable digital solutions that meet strategic goals and user needs
• ensure data and technology architecture decisions support scalability, reusability and interoperability across government
• ensure the organisation remains safe, secure and resilient to cyber threats and attacks
• negotiate and secure investment for digital, data and technology
• advise on investment priorities across competing demands to maximise benefits and outcomes
• ensure the organisation anticipates and adapts to changes in capability needs
• be a trusted advisor to the board on all matters of digital, data and technology
• A specific chief digital and information officer job can vary depending on the context and challenges in your organisation.
• This role is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of: SCS 2 (Senior Civil Service 2)"

[edit] Cities

As digitisation impacted almost every aspect of modern life, some 5 years later, many major cities started to appoint their own chief digital officer to help with digital transition. The tasks ranged from developing city services online, and collecting, managing and using data to monitor key performance indicators, to developing city apps that help citizens live more easily in their city and real-time management and monitoring of city infrastructure and services through a command and control centre or city dashboard.

For example, Theo Blackwell was appointed as London’s first Chief Digital Officer (CDO) in September 2017, to lead on London-wide digital transformation, data and smart city initiatives at City Hall.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Asset information.
• BIM.
• BIM co-ordinator.
• BIM manager.
• Chief technology officer CTO.
• Common data environment.
• Digital twins.
• Government Construction Strategy.
• Information manager.
• Knowledge management.
• Project information model.
• Smart cities.

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