Role of CTO in a Consulting Organization ?

CTO’s are business savvy technologists,  responsible for Technical Strategy and identifying technologies that provide competitive advantage for their Organization.  

Each Consulting Organization percieves CTO role in a different way.    CTO’s are hired to head their R&D office and competencies.   CTO’s are appointed based on Organization structure and investments in areas of Research.  The focus of these organizations are to make sure they have competencies in new technologies,  their investments are in line with the vision.   

 Having CTO in an System Integrator / Consulting Organization has its own drawbacks.

• Most of  the clients have their own CTO’s and they drive the strategic direction with regards to their projects.  
• Consulting Organization having  Research wing at departmental level which report to their Delivery arm.  In that case CTO role just becomes a namesake
• Setting up of CTO office comes with a price tag, so it should be a carefully thought out strategic decision. 

When does a Consulting Organization / System Integrator need a CTO?

• When the vision of the Organization is forward looking with respect to Technology and Clients requirements
• The Company has definitive ideas on what CTO is supposed to do.
• Alignment of all R&D and Competency under one office or person.  This might require an Organizational change.
• CTO Office should not be counted as money makers this might hamper the R&D
• Sufficient investments to make sure that the set vision is realized.