Just who is a relaxed CIO?
Think about it: A CIO's role is possibly the toughest among the C-level peers. Today, technology changes every minute and a CIO must remain one step ahead of it all. In a team where information floats across hundreds of co-workers, keeping all of it neatly tucked in pockets that are easily accessible - to the right people - forms the key challenge. A Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) survey calls this the era of Industry 4.0. The leaders of this era will be companies where teams can access and exchange information without delay. But this is easier said than done. A big challenge is to build a platform that integrates diverse workplaces - including the workplace at home. Even 10 years back, work from home was never this prolific.

To find an answer to this challenge, one first needs to understand how this changed work environment affects the way a CIO functions.

What has changed?
Your toolkit is now completely digital. Work and communication are instant and, mostly, virtual. Team messengers and e-mails are not enough. Think virtual meeting tools, shared calendars, task sheets, updates and several others. Everything has shifted to non-physical media. Technology that puts all of this in one place is called an enterprise collaboration solution. Operational technology and communication technology have equal significance today. If you work on a digital platform, you need to access all updates and information in a similar manner.

With enterprise collaboration solutions, you get it all in one place. The emerging virtual work environment, powered by online collaboration platforms is what matters. Some people may prefer only remote work. Others may prefer flexi time, choosing their own balance of remote and onsite work. Such work will continue to be relevant in the future. A Fractl survey lists flexible hours and work-from-home options as the top facilities that job seekers want. A recent Gallup report found that the most engaged workers spent 60 to 80 per cent of their week working from home. Commuting, stress, time lag...everything that compromises productivity becomes insignificant with the online collaboration solutions.

Everything has shifted to non-physical media. Technology that puts all of this in one place is called an enterprise collaboration solution.

How can CIOs manage this change?
The Gartner 2018 CIO Agenda suggests that the CIO must lead the digital transformation. They must stipulate the best digital practices. Why the CIO? Simple! When a behavioural change starts at the top, there is a greater chance of success. Make productivity matter more than presence. Explore the new age online collaboration platforms. Accenture suggests 'task-based employee tracking'. What an employee accomplishes (with the given resources) counts. The hours put in do not. Robust technological support makes a difference. Using team messengers like Flock enables file-sharing, work collaborations, and seamless communication on one screen. People can access the information they need with ease. Take tools like Trello and Asana. When you integrate these with Flock, you can keep tabs on several projects. You don’t just get updates. You are notified when a task is created, commented upon, or completed.

How does a CIO select the right tools?
There is no easy way. The right tool is both secure and efficient. If your work is not secure from breaches, productivity will amount to little. The right tool is compatible with the digital ecosystem you work in. Enable your employees to do their best work. If they do it while they wait to pick up their baby from day care, then so be it. Give them the aid that helps them deliver in the least time, with the least fuss and logistic demands. The CIO’s adaptability to the larger digital ecosystem has impacts on the bottom line and the top line. The pace of information exchange will be even more rapid going forward. But the right attitude and choice of technology should keep the CIO in control of this exchange. And offer him the precious peace of mind!