How is a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) different from a Chief Information Officer (CIO) ?
A CTO is a business executive position whose focus is on technical issues in a company. The role emerged in the United States in the 1980s as a business-focused extension of the position of Director of R&D. The position is focused on technology enhancements that increase the profits yielded from research and development projects. While a CIO is principally focused on enhancing existing strategy and tactical process, a CTO focuses more on identifying and introducing technologies that support corporate growth and transition toward future goals. The authority and capabilities of a CIO and CTO are equivalent, and in many companies the two terms are synonymous. Only the focus is different.
