First 90 Days of a CIO

By: A Staff Writer

Updated on: Sep 04, 2023

The first 90 days in any leadership role are critical for establishing credibility, building relationships, and setting the stage for success. As a new Chief Information Officer (CIO), this period is crucial as you will align technology with business strategy, manage IT resources, and drive digital transformation. This guide provides a day-by-day roadmap for your first 90 days as a CIO, ensuring that you hit the ground running and make the most of this critical period.

First 90 Days of a CIO

Week 1: Understand the Landscape and Set Expectations

Day 1-3: Discovery and Orientation

1. Meet with your predecessor or interim CIO to understand the current state of IT.
2. Familiarize yourself with the organization’s technology infrastructure and ongoing projects.
3. Review the IT budget, resources, and headcount.
4. Meet with your direct reports and key stakeholders to learn about their priorities and expectations.

Day 4-5: Set Expectations and Initial Priorities

1. Define your 90-day objectives and communicate them to your team and stakeholders.
2. Establish a regular communication cadence with your team and key stakeholders.
3. Identify immediate areas that require your attention, such as critical projects, security, and infrastructure.

Week 2-4: Assess the Organization and Build Relationships

Day 6-30: Assessments and Relationship Building

1. Conduct one-on-one meetings with your direct reports to learn about their strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations.
2. Hold town hall meetings to introduce yourself to the broader IT organization and gather feedback.
3. Schedule meetings with business leaders to understand their technology needs and pain points. 4. Review strategic plans, IT policies, and processes to identify gaps and areas for improvement.

1. Assess the organization’s cybersecurity posture and identify areas of vulnerability.
2. Evaluate the IT talent pool, and identify skill gaps and development areas.
3. Attend cross-functional meetings to learn about other departments and build relationships.

Week 5-8: Develop Strategy and Align with Business Goals

Day 31-60: Strategic Planning and Alignment

1. Analyze the information gathered during the assessment phase to identify key themes and challenges.
2. Develop a high-level IT strategy that aligns with the organization’s goals and priorities.
3. Validate your strategy with key stakeholders, including the CEO, CFO, and business leaders.
4. Create a detailed IT roadmap outlining initiatives, projects, and resource allocation for the next 12-18 months.
5. Develop a communication plan to share your strategy and roadmap with the broader organization.
6. Begin implementing quick wins to demonstrate value and build credibility.

Week 9-12: Execute, Monitor, and Adapt

Day 61-90: Execution and Monitoring

1. Monitor the progress of your strategic initiatives and adjust plans as necessary.
2. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your initiatives and the overall IT organization.
3. Hold regular check-ins with your direct reports to track progress and address any roadblocks.
4. Communicate regularly with business leaders and stakeholders to keep them informed and solicit feedback.
5. Begin addressing talent gaps by recruiting, training, or upskilling employees.

Day 90: Reflect and Adjust

1. Review your progress against your 90-day objectives and celebrate successes with your team.
2. Identify areas for improvement and create an action plan to address them in the next 90 days.
3. Seek feedback from your team and stakeholders on your performance and leadership style.
4. Adjust your IT strategy and roadmap based on new insights and changing business priorities.

The first 90 days as a CIO are crucial for establishing credibility, building relationships, and setting the stage for long-term success. By following this day-by-day guide, you will be better prepared to navigate this critical period and make a lasting impact on your organization’s technology landscape. Remember to remain flexible, adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape, and maintain open lines of communication with your team and stakeholders to ensure continued success.