Should CIOs rethink the IT roadmap?

Technology roadmaps in the CIO world have shifted from long range five to ten year planning to a far shorter and more uncertain horizon, because disruption now arrives without warning and can demand immediate defence and rapid organisational change. This article argues that AI is the most significant disruptor, reshaping automation, user interfaces, and operating models, and it urges CIOs to adopt a mindset of faster moves rather than bigger plans. It highlights four pressure points that can derail a roadmap: workforce resilience and risk management, security threats amplified by AI, geopolitical shocks affecting supply chains, and failover readiness including the ability to revert to manual processes if systems become inoperative. To keep roadmaps relevant, the piece recommends reviewing them at least quarterly, keeping CEOs and boards informed when priorities shift, linking roadmap updates to enterprise risk management, and recognising that sudden changes may require budget reallocation. Finally, it emphasises that training and reskilling must be a core roadmap component, including cross training, so IT teams can adapt quickly as technology and threats evolve.