CTOs: New And Growing Responsibilities (And How To Prepare)

Forbes - Feb 6th, 2025
Open on Forbes

The role of Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) is undergoing significant transformation as technology becomes increasingly integral to business strategy. CTOs are expected to expand their responsibilities beyond traditional tech leadership to encompass areas such as product management, cross-functional collaboration, cybersecurity, AI ethics, and strategic business alignment. As technology drives business innovation and growth, CTOs will be pivotal in shaping company strategies and leading initiatives that leverage AI, data, and automation for competitive advantage.

This evolution reflects broader trends in digital transformation where CTOs must adapt to rapidly advancing technologies and changing market demands. The implications are profound, necessitating a shift in skills from technical expertise to strategic leadership, including board-level communication and cross-industry collaboration. The changing role underscores the need for CTOs to balance innovation with security, align technology with business goals, and ensure ethical practices in AI deployment, all while fostering resilience and sustainability in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides an insightful look into the evolving role of CTOs, drawing on expert opinions from the Forbes Technology Council. It effectively highlights potential future trends and responsibilities, making it a valuable read for technology professionals. However, the article's reliance on expert predictions without concrete examples or data limits its factual accuracy and verifiability. While it presents a range of perspectives, the focus is predominantly positive, lacking consideration of potential challenges or dissenting views. The sources are credible but limited to a single community, which could introduce bias. The article is timely and relevant but may not have a broad impact beyond industry circles. Its readability is a strong point, with clear language and structure facilitating easy comprehension. Overall, the article serves as a thought-provoking piece on the future of technology leadership, although it could benefit from greater transparency and balance.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story primarily consists of predictions and expert opinions regarding the evolving role of CTOs. While it presents plausible scenarios, the factual accuracy relies heavily on the credibility of the Forbes Technology Council members cited. For instance, the claim that CTO roles will integrate product management and align technology with business strategy is a forecast rather than a verifiable fact. Specific examples or case studies supporting these predictions are largely absent, which limits the verifiability of the claims. The story accurately reflects industry trends but lacks detailed evidence and data to substantiate its assertions.

6
Balance

The article presents a range of perspectives from different members of the Forbes Technology Council, offering a broad view of potential changes in the CTO role. However, the focus is predominantly on positive and forward-looking aspects without much consideration of potential challenges or negative implications. There is a lack of dissenting opinions or alternative viewpoints that could provide a more balanced discussion. The article could benefit from including perspectives on potential downsides or risks associated with the evolving role of CTOs.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly written, with each expert opinion presented in a separate section. The language is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to follow the arguments. However, the article could benefit from a clearer distinction between predictions and current trends. The tone is neutral and professional, which aids in maintaining clarity throughout the piece.

8
Source quality

The sources cited in the article are members of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community of senior technology executives. This lends a degree of authority and credibility to the opinions expressed. However, the article relies solely on these experts, which could introduce a bias towards their perspectives. The lack of additional sources or independent verification of the claims made is a limitation, but the credibility of the council members supports the reliability of the information presented.

5
Transparency

The article does not provide detailed information on how the opinions were gathered or the criteria for selecting the experts. There is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, such as whether the experts have business interests that could influence their perspectives. The basis for the claims is not thoroughly explained, which affects the transparency of the article. Providing more context on the methodology and the experts' backgrounds would enhance transparency.

Sources

  1. https://imaginovation.net/blog/goals-ctos-focus-and-why/
  2. https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/role-responsibility-of-cto-in-a-startup/
  3. https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/evolution-of-cto-role/
  4. https://dev.to/giveitatry/cto-survival-2025-evolve-or-exit-2ncb
  5. https://teamstation.dev/nearshore-it-staffing-articles/what-is-a-chief-technology-officer-cto-in-2025