An information technology executive is a senior-level executive who oversees a company’s computerized information systems. This person, like vice-presidents and directors, may be focused on management and strategic planning, depending on the size of the company. He might be more heavily involved in on-site applications and troubleshooting at other companies, which is in line with the responsibilities of an information technology manager or supervisor. This type of executive will most likely supervise and train others in the use of effective and efficient protocols and procedures.
The design and maintenance of computer systems is a big part of this job. He will assist in the planning and upgrading of company information equipment to enable an organization to effectively store, retrieve, and process information. This could include attending strategic planning meetings with other executives or manually working with servers, hardware, software, and other technological devices and machines. He may also plan and upgrade company databases, which are used to store large amounts of data.
Budgeting is another aspect of the job of an information technology executive. Most senior managers in this field are in charge of maintaining information technology budgets, and in the case of a smaller company, they may also be in charge of overseeing related department budgets. He’ll have to keep track of expenses, pay attention to employee salaries, and calculate profits. In the case of a company or department audit, he may also be in charge of coordinating with outside accounting advisors.
Employees must be supervised, trained, and evaluated by an information technology executive. His team could include anyone from a manager to a technical assistant. This executive will be in charge of interviewing, hiring, and scheduling employees in an information technology department, no matter how big or small. He’ll also conduct performance evaluations and lead the department’s training and safety efforts.
Communication with outside suppliers and contractors, as well as procedural planning and implementation, are all responsibilities of the information technology executive. He’ll have to plan for his company’s information technology sector, and he’ll have to communicate those plans to those who will carry them out. An executive of this caliber must also have a broad understanding of government policies and laws as they apply to the workplace, the field of information technology, and current computer equipment and application trends.
This position necessitates knowledge of people management, information technology, and general business practices. In this field, senior executives will likely spend much of their time planning, budgeting, and analyzing. A middle-management information technology executive may have some strategic responsibilities as well, but will spend more time on hands-on applications and training.