The job of IT director in an SME

What is an IT director?

An IT manager (CIO) is the company manager’s IT right hand. He proposes the company’s IT strategy and puts it into practice. He intervenes at different levels in the management and optimisation of the company's information system (hardware and software infrastructures, information architecture, business tools, dedicated internal and / or external human resources, legacy technology, etc.).

From the establishment of specifications, to the choice and monitoring of IT suppliers and service providers, through to the choice and configuration of IT solutions, the IT director is involved at every level of IT project management, whether or not accompanied by an IT team. He is often a key contact in leading and managing change in the company.

Today, major IT upheavals in companies are changing the role of the IT director (CIO) but he remains the guarantor of an integrated and secure information system. Indeed, the availability of business applications in the cloud, the rise of social networks, the use of employees’ own devices at work and the virtualisation of infrastructures and services all require IT management to rethink the IT strategy of the company when it is not the overall strategy of the company which is called into question and which strongly impacts the information system of the company.

The IT director must anticipate the needs of the company and provide innovative solutions to business issues.

Why hire an IT director in an SME?

No, IT management is not reserved for large companies! Today, IT is present at all levels, the IT needs of an SME are numerous and the choices are often strategic.

An IT director can help the manager of an SME to respond to many problems, such as:

Are IT purchases carried out optimally?
How to choose an IT supplier or service provider?
Could the same information be entered several times over, and can that be avoided?
Is (new) integrated management software necessary? How to choose a suitable tool?
Is the security of installations and computer access guaranteed?
Is a backup procedure in place?
Are maintenance contracts being followed? Are IT budgets optimised?
Are the IT teams properly sized and supported?
Is the IT system still suited to the needs of the company?
...

The IT director often sheds new light on the IT management of an SME, which goes beyond managing computers and the computer network. IT must be at the service of the company and offer adequate responses to improve management processes.

Why is a timeshare IT department an efficient solution for SMEs?

Hiring senior executives is often out of reach for SMEs. Today, several functions in an SME are increasingly performed on a timeshare basis. It’s common to have a financial or human resources manager present only a few days a month, depending on the needs of the business.

The same model can of course be applied to IT: a full-time IT department is rarely necessary in an SME. That is why a timeshare IT director, present occasionally or on a regular basis (from a few hours to a few days per month), is an ideal and effective answer for an SME.

What is the role of an IT director in a small SME or for a self-employed person?

In a small SME or for a freelancer, the IT director acts more as an IT advisor on the choice of equipment and solutions, but also brings a different view of IT by seeking innovative solutions suited to the business. He will also be operational in the field and will not hesitate to intervene directly to help with the configuration or installation of IT tools.