7 Challenges IT Leaders Will Face In 2026
CIO, Monday, January 12th, 2026
CIOs say the role is evolving. Those who can drive a transformation in people alongside technology will separate their organizations from those that fall behind.
Today's CIOs face increasing expectations on multiple fronts: They're driving operational and business strategy while simultaneously leading AI initiatives and balancing related compliance and governance concerns.
Additionally, Ranjit Rajan, vice president and head of research at IDC, says CIOs will be called to justify previous investment in automation while managing related costs.
'CIOs will be tasked with creating enterprise AI value playbooks, featuring expanded ROI models to define, measure, and showcase impact across efficiency, growth, and innovation,' Rajan says.