Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0263-9261

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

White, Carol Cutler

Committee Member

King, Stephanie B.

Committee Member

Coats, Linda T.

Date of Degree

12-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Visible MSU only 1 year

Document Type

Dissertation - Campus Access Only

Major

Community College Leadership

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Industrial Technology, Instructional Design, and Community College Leadership

Abstract

ABSTRACT The role of a Chief Information Officer (CIO) or a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) within higher education is essential, though not well defined or understood. At all levels of the institution a CIO/CTO impacts the information technology (IT) systems required for the security and the ability of the college or university to operate and to support student success. Institutions of higher education are dependent on the IT department for college-issued computers, for software services, for library functioning, and for driving innovation to keep the college competitive for enrollment and student success. Although the CIO role is essential to a higher education institution’s functioning, scholars report CIOs may not have access to the level of decision making that may be in the best interests of the college. Prior studies indicate a disconnect between the strategic (proactive) role and the tactical (reactive) role of IT personnel within higher education organizations and note that the disconnect hinders the ability of the organization to perform at a high level and serve its purpose. The purpose of this mixed method descriptive case study was to explore the positioning and roles of community college CIOs/CTOs within individual colleges’ strategic planning process and across the college system in a southern state. The study used a modified version of the Strategic Thinking Questionnaire (STQ) and interviews with all CIOs in the southern state’s community college system. The STQ results indicate the CIOs are positioned to achieve organizational effectiveness and what is best for their individual college through IT services and support. The interviews confirmed that CIOs were positioned well for strategic planning at the institutions to achieve what is best for the college through IT services and support.

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