The Role of the CIO in Strategy for Innovative Information Technology in Higher Education Institutions

This study aims to analyze the influence of the personality traits of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in the type of strategy adopted by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for innovative usage of information technology (IT). In order to validate the research hypotheses, a quantitative research approach was adopted where the data collecting instrument was a questionnaire administered to the universe of CIOs in Portuguese HEIs. The results indicate that some personality traits (conscientiousness and openness) are found to have a positive influence on the type of strategy for IT innovation, and only openness shows the expected correspondence between HEIs classified as Prospectors and Defenders. Some theoretical and practical implications for higher education researchers, policy-makers and practitioners are also presented.