Gain access to executive-level digital leadership without the full-time commitment.
We guide your digital strategy, operating model, and transformation initiatives to align technology, data, and customer experience with business outcomes.
Our Approach
When entering a new organization, our Fractional Chief Digital Officers begin with an intensive discovery period focused on three critical dimensions:
- Business strategy and growth objectives
- Current digital capabilities and maturity
- Organizational alignment, decision rights, and change readiness
The CDO’s approach is strategic, collaborative, and tailored to the organization’s specific context, industry, and stage of digital maturity.
The CDO will take time to understand how digital initiatives are currently conceived, prioritized, and executed across the organization, recognizing that sustainable digital transformation depends as much on culture, incentives, and governance as it does on platforms and tools.
Rather than immediately imposing new digital frameworks or transformation programs, the CDO will observe leadership dynamics, cross-functional collaboration, and customer-facing processes before recommending change. Clear communication norms will be established early, including expectations for reporting, escalation, and executive decision-making, while the CDO adapts their operating cadence to the organization’s pace and capacity for change.
Our Methodology
Phase 1 - Discovery
Our Fractional CDOs follow a structured methodology to integrate with an organization’s existing digital, data, customer experience, and innovation frameworks (where they exist).
If no formal frameworks are in place, the CDO will introduce proven Matador Consulting digital transformation methodologies grounded in industry best practices.
During the discovery phase, the CDO will:
- Conduct deep-dive sessions with executive leadership and key stakeholders to understand strategic priorities, growth constraints, customer expectations, and digital pain points.
- Assess the current digital ecosystem, including customer journeys, data and analytics capabilities, digital platforms, automation, and external vendor relationships.
- Evaluate digital governance, funding models, prioritization mechanisms, and cross-functional collaboration between business, technology, marketing, operations, and data teams.
- Identify gaps between current digital performance and desired business outcomes, highlighting both quick wins and structural transformation opportunities.
- Facilitate workshops and working sessions to establish a shared understanding of the current state and build alignment around the need for change.
Phase 2 - Initial Execution
In the second phase, the CDO will:
- Synthesize discovery insights into a clear, business-aligned digital roadmap.
- Define or refine a digital operating model, including decision rights, ownership, and accountability across functions.
- Establish governance mechanisms for digital investment, prioritization, and performance measurement.
- Develop a phased set of recommendations across multiple horizons, each with defined outcomes, KPIs, resource implications, and risk considerations:
- Immediate tactical improvements to address high-impact gaps.
- Medium-term initiatives to strengthen digital capabilities and execution.
- Long-term transformational programs focused on customer experience, data-driven decision-making, platform modernization, and scalable growth.
The CDO will take a hands-on role in critical decisions while empowering the team through knowledge transfer and mentorship.
Phase 3 - Ongoing Execution and Continuous Improvement
The third phase of the methodology involves the CDO:
- Embedding digital practices, metrics, and governance into day-to-day operations.
- Transitioning from direct execution to strategic oversight and advisory support as internal capabilities mature.
- Institutionalizing learnings through documentation, playbooks, operating cadences, and leadership routines.
- Supporting succession planning, capability development, and long-term partner relationships across the digital ecosystem.
Throughout all phases, the CDO maintains transparent communication through weekly status updates, monthly executive summaries, and quarterly strategic reviews.