How to Review the Performance of Your CIO/CTO/Technology Leader (and How StackUp Can Help)

As a CEO or founder, reviewing the performance of your CIO, CTO  or technology leader is no small feat. Their role is one of the most pivotal in your organisation, and assessing it accurately is crucial for your business’s success.

‍

A capable technology leader can mean the difference between steady, efficient growth and unforeseen catastrophe.

‍

But how can you be sure that your technology leadership is up to scratch when so much of their work is hidden beneath the surface?

The Complexity of Assessing Technology Leadership

Technology is like an iceberg—only a fraction of its impact is visible above the waterline. You might see new features rolled out quickly, an app update that wows users, or a major systems overhaul, and conclude that your CIO/CTO/technology leader is performing excellently. And they might be! But beneath that visible layer lies another, often obscured reality: the foundational components like risk management, security, and long-term scalability that truly make or break a technology function.

‍

A CIO/CTO/Technology Leader delivering rapid innovation and impressive features could still be taking shortcuts that put your business at risk. Imagine rewarding your tech leader with a pay rise, only to suffer a major data breach weeks later. It’s a scenario that would leave anyone—especially the board—dissatisfied. Without visibility into your full technology environment, you’re at risk of judging your tech leaders solely on appearances.

What to Look for in a CIO/CTO’s Performance

An effective review of your CIO/CTO/Technology Leader’s performance goes beyond the surface indicators of innovation and speed. It should encompass a full assessment of their responsibilities and how well they manage both opportunities and risks. Here are key areas to consider:

• Innovation and Strategy: How effectively is your CIO/CTO/Technology Leader aligning technology innovation with business strategy?
• Staff and Training: Is your tech team capable, growing, and well-supported? An effective CIO/CTO/Technology Leader will not just build tech, they’ll build teams—ensuring talent is nurtured and skills are kept current.
• Cloud and Network Management: Are your cloud and network services optimised for efficiency, scalability, and cost? Or are there looming issues that could affect the business’s agility?
• Data Security and Privacy: Security is non-negotiable. Is your data secure? Does your CIO/CTO/Technology Leader ensure compliance with industry standards, and are there effective prevention of and responses to data threats?
• Policies and Procedures: Are policies around technology use and data management in place, and are they being followed?
• Risk Management: How well are risks being identified, assessed, and mitigated? A flashy app doesn’t matter if your underlying systems are vulnerable.
• Vendor Management: Are your third-party vendors being managed to ensure value and compliance with standards, or are there risks associated with your partnerships?
• Technology Performance: How well does your technology perform from both a technical and business standpoint? Is it stable, scalable, and delivering value?

How StackUp Helps You Gain Insight

Assessing the performance of a CIO/CTO/Technology Leader across all these areas can feel overwhelming, especially if your background isn’t in technology. That’s where StackUp can help. StackUp provides a comprehensive assessment that pulls back the curtain on your technology operations, giving you a clear, unbiased report on every critical aspect of your technology function.

‍

StackUp’s assessment covers innovation, strategy, cloud management, security, and more—providing a holistic view of your technology leadership’s strengths and areas for improvement. With a scorecard in hand, you’ll be able to make informed decisions: whether that’s recognising your CIO/CTO/Technology Leader for exceptional work or addressing any gaps before they become serious liabilities.

‍

Rather than relying on gut instinct or incomplete data, StackUp gives you the visibility across the entirety of your technology landscape.

‍

This enables you to reward great performance appropriately, mitigate risks, and ultimately keep your business on a path to sustainable growth.