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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments that contributed to the development of this paper. The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from FCT and FEDER/COMPETE through Grant PEst-C/EGE/UI4007/2013.

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  1. Information Technology Services, University of Beira Interior, Rua Marquês D’Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001, Covilhã, Portugal

    Cláudia Pinho

  2. CEFAGE-UBI Research Center, Management and Economics Department, University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, 6200-209, Covilhã, Portugal

    Mário Franco

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  1. Cláudia Pinho
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  2. Mário Franco
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Correspondence to Mário Franco.

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Pinho, C., Franco, M. The Role of the CIO in Strategy for Innovative Information Technology in Higher Education Institutions. High Educ Policy 30, 361–380 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-016-0028-2

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