What CIOs Are Doing To Evolve Operating Models And Talent

2026-02-16 · Source: Featured Blogs - Forrester · Field: Business & Management — Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Operations & Process Management, Human Resources & Workforce Development · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

CIOs are actively addressing challenges in IT operating models and talent, which often suffer from poorly designed hybrid structures, unclear decision rights, and limited enterprise architecture capabilities. Talent pools are frequently skewed towards legacy system maintenance, lacking capacity for innovation, data, and AI, further complicated by cost constraints and cultural resistance. Three recurring initiative patterns emerge from CIO discussions: shifting to platform operating models co-owned by business and technology to clarify ownership and accelerate decisions; building robust architecture and portfolio management capabilities to inform investment roadmaps and application rationalization; and rebalancing technology talent to align with an AI-enabled future, including creating new workforce management functions and investing in structured learning programs to develop skills in platform engineering, data science, and AI.

Key takeaway

For VPs of Engineering and Data struggling with fragmented IT operations or skill gaps, prioritize a strategic shift to platform operating models and invest in robust enterprise architecture. Your teams should rebalance talent towards AI and data capabilities through targeted hiring and structured learning programs. This approach clarifies ownership, accelerates decision-making, and directly aligns technology investments with business value, ensuring your department can effectively deliver on strategic objectives.

Key insights

Evolving IT operating models and talent is crucial for CIOs to translate strategy into measurable business outcomes.

Principles

• Co-own platforms with business for clear accountability.
• Invest in architecture as a decision backbone.
• Rebalance talent for AI-enabled futures.

Method

CIOs are reorganizing into platform-based value streams, establishing enterprise architecture practices with asset inventories, and implementing workforce management functions to rebalance skills towards emerging technologies like AI.

In practice

• Restructure teams into cross-functional platforms.
• Implement an architecture management tool.
• Create a new workforce management function.

Topics

• IT Operating Models
• Platform Engineering
• Enterprise Architecture
• AI Talent Development
• IT Modernization

Best for: VP of Engineering/Data, CTO, Executive, Director of AI/ML

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Featured Blogs - Forrester.