Beyond operational support: Five ways the OCIO drives business value
In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, technology is more than an enabler, it is a strategic business driver. Yet, many organizations struggle with turning IT potential into results. According to our 2025 Voice of Our Clients research, only 41% of executives say their digital strategies are producing expected results. What does this mean for business leaders? Success depends on turning IT strategy into impactful business outcomes.
This is why the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) is quickly emerging as a valuable strategic business partner, connecting IT initiatives to business priorities. Its true value goes beyond operational support—especially as digital acceleration reshapes industries—to ensure technology delivers innovation, measurable ROI, and business value. This is where the OCIO plays a pivotal role.
Effective OCIOs don’t just govern, they understand and bridge the business and IT worlds to drive digital maturity, transform workforce capabilities, and act as role models for the entire organization.
From aligning strategy to building talent, here are five ways the OCIO can elevate your organization’s transformation and create lasting value.
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Align IT strategy to business imperatives for maximum value |
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Often, investments fall short because IT strategies are not fully aligned with business objectives. The OCIO helps business partners shape clearer IT visions, align goals, and identify opportunities for a true competitive advantage. From creating actionable portfolios and managing IT financials—budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and reporting—effective OCIOs ensure initiatives turn into measurable outcomes and strengthen collaboration across the organization. |
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Turn IT into a catalyst for innovation and performance |
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The OCIO turns IT into a catalyst for innovation and efficiency. An effective OCIO elevates IT’s role by managing governance, processes, resources, and talent. It evaluates emerging technologies, optimizes resources, and builds future-ready skills, transforming IT into an engine of innovation and business growth. |
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Strengthen cross-functional collaboration with a holistic approach |
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When business units operate independently in silos, they rarely achieve their full potential. The OCIO offers a holistic perspective by fostering collaboration across IT, business units, and corporate functions. By coordinating digital resources, budgets, and timelines, it ensures projects are effectively aligned and executed. In breaking down silos, the OCIO unlocks new opportunities and ensures technology serves enterprise-wide objectives. |
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Create transformational success through adoption |
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Digital initiatives succeed when business units fully embrace them—supported by consistent governance and effective change management. An OCIO translates transformation goals into tangible outcomes. It monitors key programs, anticipates risks, and champions change management to secure adoption across the organization. With consistent IT processes, standards and KPIs, it can deliver lasting business impact. |
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Build future-ready talent and capabilities |
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Sustainable digital transformation requires skilled talent and strong leadership. OCIOs can develop the next generation of IT talent by embedding continuous learning and leadership development programs directly into daily operations, providing targeted training and promoting AI-augmented ways of working to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation. This approach helps organizations quickly adapt to market shifts and rapidly evolving technology. |
From the back office to strategic partner
The OCIO stands at the intersection of innovation and leadership. While accelerating transformation, it also ensures technology investments achieve measurable value. Think of it as a strategic control tower, connecting IT investments with your organization’s goals and strategic direction. Organizations embracing the OCIO’s potential will lead their markets in the digital era.
Additionally, the most successful OCIOs we have partnered with blend IT and business expertise from the outset. By understanding and clearly aligning organizational objectives, the OCIO positions itself not as tactical support but as the CIO’s strategic right-hand.
We work with organizations to help them implement and optimize their OCIO—turning their digital ambitions into tangible outcomes. Connect with us—Lara Ozanne and Christophe Malvestio —to learn more about how your OCIO can become a powerful strategic engine for success.
We invite you to learn more about how OCIOs can drive innovation and value for your organization:
- Bridging strategy and execution: Overcoming OCIO challenges to deliver real business value
About these authors
Lara Ozanne
Director Business Consulting - France
Lara co-leads CGI’s CIO Advisory and Digital Leadership business consulting service. She also drives the development of IT consulting practices and business solutions for CGI’s Financial Services sector in Paris.
Christophe Malvestio
Vice-President, Business Consulting
Christophe is a seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience, dedicated to enhancing the impact of CIO and IT departments on business performance across industries.
