| Assessment Description | An individual project where you investigate the role of a CIO in an organisation where you have a personal stake. |
|---|---|
| Individual/Group | Individual |
| Length | 2,000 words |
| Subject Learning Outcomes | a - h |
| Week Due | Week 10 |
| Weighting | 30% |
| Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) | Allowed |
In your individual project you will critique the role of a CIO you are familiar with, or that of a company you are familiar with. There must exist a personal connection. The purpose of this assignment is to get you in the mindset of a CIO, and understand the multiple roles they play in an organisation. Your evaluation of a CIO allows you to understand the various roles in a context to which you can relate.
Your Individual project output is assessed on your report to the instructor, evaluated based on these aspects:
1. The Context
2. Information Technology
3. Report Structure
Your assessment for each aspect will be a letter grade, given using the following table. The overall grade will be an average of marks associated with the letter grades.
This assessment should incorporate APA 7th referencing style. For support on how to reference see the AIHE Learning Support Hub on canvas for further information.
This assessment allows the responsible and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools to assist with preparation. However, students must ensure that their final submission represents their own critical thinking, analysis, and synthesis of information. Any content generated by GenAI must be carefully evaluated for accuracy, appropriately acknowledged, and properly referenced. Students are required to declare the use of GenAI within the assignment. Any submission that includes content created by unauthorised use of artificial intelligence tools is a breach of academic integrity.
Please refer to the attached rubric for marking criteria and standards of performance. Constructive feedback will be provided within a timely manner in accordance with AIHE Assessment Procedure.
This assessment is not redeemable unless otherwise specified.
Written submissions that exceed the word limit by more than 10% will cease to be marked from the point at which that limit is exceeded.
Time limits for in-person or video presentations that exceed the allocated time limit by more than 10% will cease to be marked from the point at which that limit is exceeded, and Lecturers may ask students to cease their presentation.
Students may be eligible for a variation to assessment arrangements when unexpected or extenuating circumstances impact on their performance or their ability to complete their assessment tasks by or on the specified date. Students must complete the Application to Vary Assessment with evidence.
Students with identified, special or specific needs may apply for variations to assessment in the subject. Students are required to contact the Student Support Officer or Student Learning Advisor to discuss their specific needs.
An assessment task is late for submission when it is not submitted by the due date and time as indicated on Canvas, or by an agreed extension date and time as confirmed by the subject lecturer.
Late assessment tasks will be penalised at the rate of 5% of maximum possible marks, per calendar day (i.e. 24 hours or part thereof). After seven (7) calendar days, assignments will attract zero (0) marks. Assignments submitted at any stage within the first 24 hours after the deadline will be considered to be one day late and therefore subject to the associated penalty. For further detail see: AIHE Assessment Procedure.
Academic integrity is an essential quality for higher education and is a fundamental part of learning and teaching. AIHE is committed to promoting academic integrity and ethical behaviour. The reputation of AIHE and its graduates, and the academic standing of its qualifications rests with its ability to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct fairly and consistently.
All students must become familiar with, and understand the meaning and consequences of plagiarism, cheating in exams and tests, unauthorised use of artificial intelligence, collusion, contract cheating and other academic offences under the AIHE Academic Integrity Policy.
| Criteria | F | P+ | C+ | D+ | HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context | Very poor performance, unacceptable | Poor performance – barely acceptable. Many aspects of topic under-achieved. Topic goal was only just reached. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation and report satisfactory. Although topic goals reached many aspects of final output below par. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation report satisfactory. High quality work, but more should reasonably be expected at this level. | Good, solid performance. All bases covered in terms of topic work, presentation and report. To some degree exceeded expectation. |
| Content – Information Technology | Very poor performance, unacceptable | Poor performance – barely acceptable. Many aspects of topic under-achieved. Topic goal was only just reached. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation and report satisfactory. Although topic goals reached many aspects of final output below par. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation report satisfactory. High quality work, but more should reasonably be expected at this level. | Good, solid performance. All bases covered in terms of topic work, presentation and report. To some degree exceeded expectation. |
| Report structure | Very poor performance, unacceptable | Poor performance – barely acceptable. Many aspects of topic under-achieved. Topic goal was only just reached. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation and report satisfactory. Although topic goals reached many aspects of final output below par. | Good performance. Topic work, presentation report satisfactory. High quality work, but more should reasonably be expected at this level. | Good, solid performance. All bases covered in terms of topic work, presentation and report. To some degree exceeded expectation. |
| Approval | Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Subject Developer | Riaz Esmailzadeh | June 2024 |
| Original Approval (HoS/Academic Board) | Head of School | June 2024 |
| Current Approval | MBA Coordinator – Nayomi Wijesinghe | TBC |
| Version # | Key Changes | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Original Development | June 2024 |
| 2.0 | Changed from Assessment 1B to Assessment 2 (Assessment 2 now Assessment 3). Changed learning outcomes – a-h (no i or j in subject). Updated to new template. Rubric simplified and changed to high to low. Add referencing details. | 07/07/2025 |
| Current Updated Document Location | Courses/Master of Business Admin/BUS9060/ |
|---|
Note: This report is provided as a sample for reference purposes only. For further guidance, detailed solutions, or personalized assignment support, please contact us directly.
1. Introduction & Context
This report critically evaluates the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) within an organisation where I have a personal connection — a mid-sized e-commerce business (referred to as “XYZ Retail Pvt. Ltd.”), where I previously worked as a digital marketing intern.
XYZ Retail operates in the highly competitive online retail sector, selling fashion and lifestyle products across India. The company relies heavily on digital infrastructure including its website, mobile application, payment systems, and customer analytics platforms.
The CIO in this organisation plays a crucial role in ensuring operational continuity, driving digital innovation, and aligning IT strategy with business growth objectives. Given the fast-paced digital environment, the CIO’s responsibilities extend beyond traditional IT management to include strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and digital transformation.
2. Organisational Context and Dynamics
XYZ Retail operates in a dynamic and competitive environment characterized by:
Internally, the company follows a semi-flat organisational structure, where collaboration between departments such as marketing, logistics, and IT is essential.
The CIO reports directly to the CEO and works closely with:
This interconnected structure makes the CIO role highly influential in both operational and strategic decisions.
3. Importance of Information Technology
Information Technology is the backbone of XYZ Retail’s operations. Key areas include:
a. Core Operations
b. Customer Experience
c. Data & Analytics
Without effective IT systems, the organisation would face disruptions in service delivery, customer dissatisfaction, and revenue loss.
4. Operational Role of the CIO
The CIO’s operational responsibilities at XYZ Retail include:
Evaluation (Critique)
The CIO performs well in maintaining operational stability. System downtime is minimal, and cybersecurity measures are robust.
However, some limitations include:
This suggests that while the CIO is strong operationally, there is room for improvement in proactive innovation.
5. Strategic Role of the CIO
The CIO also plays a strategic role in leveraging IT for competitive advantage.
Current Strategic Contributions
Evaluation (Critique)
The CIO demonstrates awareness of digital trends, but strategic execution is somewhat limited.
Key gaps include:
The CIO appears more operationally focused rather than acting as a true strategic leader.
6. Areas for Improvement
To enhance the CIO’s effectiveness, the following improvements are recommended:
a. Develop a Digital Transformation Strategy
The CIO should create a clear roadmap for:
b. Strengthen Data-Driven Decision Making
c. Improve Cross-Department Collaboration
d. Focus on Innovation
e. Reduce Vendor Dependency
7. Enhancing Organisational Performance through IT
Information and Technology (I&T) can further improve performance by:
These improvements would directly impact revenue growth, customer retention, and operational efficiency.
8. Original Insights
One key insight from this analysis is that the CIO role is evolving from a technical manager to a business strategist.
In XYZ Retail’s case, the CIO is still transitioning between these roles. While operational efficiency is strong, strategic leadership needs strengthening.
Another insight is that data is the most valuable asset, and the CIO must take ownership of transforming data into actionable business intelligence.
9. Conclusion
The CIO at XYZ Retail plays a critical role in maintaining IT operations and supporting business functions. However, the role currently leans more towards operational management than strategic leadership.
To fully leverage digital capabilities, the CIO must:
By doing so, the CIO can significantly enhance the organisation’s competitive advantage in the digital marketplace.
10. References (APA 7 Sample)
(You can expand this list as needed)
11. GenAI Declaration (IMPORTANT – include this in your assignment)
You can add something like:
This assignment used generative AI tools for idea structuring and language refinement. All analysis, critical thinking, and final content have been reviewed and adapted by the author to ensure originality and academic integrity.
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