For CIOs to be successful in helping drive digital transformation, they must first transform their own roles by expanding beyond traditional business, technology, and leadership areas of focus to include the "three I's" of the new CIO: ingenuity, initiative, and inspiration. The successful CIO of the future will embody these key attributes and be able to harness the power of technology and knowledge to drive exponential individual professional and business outcomes.

This IDC white paper discusses the three key elements of the CIO role in the era of digitally driven business transformation and disruption. It provides CIOs, CXOs, and line-of-business (LOB) leaders with facts and insights that explain the need for and the trajectory of the transformational journey. Examining these elements with the forces that are shaping the new role of CIOs can offer hints at how they can navigate such complex times for their organizations. A comprehensive analysis includes strategic topics such as optimizing IT, using cloud and analytics for competitive advantage, and creating digital experiences for differentiation, loyalty, and revenue growth.