Does a CTO Code or Focus Solely on Strategic Oversight?

The role of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) can vary significantly depending on the size and type of the organization. This article explores whether a CTO is involved in coding or if their responsibilities are more focused on strategic oversight and technical leadership.

Startups vs. Established Companies

In startups, the CTO is often more hands-on and may actively participate in coding and technical development, especially in the early stages when resources are limited. In larger established companies, the CTO is more likely to focus on strategic oversight and management. This difference is significant in terms of coding involvement, which can range from 100% in pre-seed startups to 0% in larger organizations.

Technical Leadership

Regardless of the coding involvement, a CTO typically provides technical leadership, sets the technology vision, and makes high-level decisions about technology architecture, tools, and platforms. They are the key figure in ensuring that the company's technical direction aligns with its long-term goals.

Team Management

A CTO usually manages engineering teams, works on hiring, and facilitates collaboration among different departments. They ensure that technical projects align with the company's goals and that the team is aligned with the overall strategy. Effective team management is crucial for the CTO to see the big picture while also addressing day-to-day challenges.

Strategic Planning

The role often involves long-term planning and innovation, staying updated on industry trends, and evaluating new technologies that can benefit the organization. Strategic planning helps the CTO guide the company towards its technological goals and ensures that the company stays competitive in the market.

Coding Skills and Involvement

While not always involved in coding on a daily basis, a good CTO should have a strong technical background and coding skills. These skills help the CTO understand the challenges their teams face and make informed decisions. For example, in my experience as a CTO, I aim to write code only if I can do it better than my team members and if the long-term expected value (EV) of writing that code is greater than the opportunity cost. This typically results in around 20-30% of my time being spent on coding. My long-term goal is to reduce that number to close to zero, indicating successful recruitment.

Overseeing Technical Development

The CTO is responsible for ensuring that technology is developed in the right strategic direction. However, this does not mean they are directly involved in day-to-day development tasks like project management. While the CTO may ensure the company is moving in the right direction, the tactical implementation of tasks is often the responsibility of project managers or team leaders.

For example, in a startup, the CTO might choose a specific technology to be part of the stack. However, as the company matures, the CTO becomes further removed from implementation details, focusing more on setting the strategic direction and ensuring the company remains innovative and competitive.

In conclusion, while a CTO may code, especially in smaller organizations, their primary focus is typically on strategic oversight and leadership in technology rather than day-to-day programming tasks. The success of a CTO depends on striking a balance between hands-on involvement and strategic oversight, both of which are crucial for the long-term success of the organization.