IT directors have voiced strong confidence in their
ability to provide measurable business benefits for their
organisations through IT-based projects.
The inaugural Computer Weekly CIO Index survey of top UK IT
management shows that 95% of IT directors believe IT is providing
more demonstrable value to the business than a year ago, and that
they will be able to demonstrate even greater returns a year from
now.
The exclusive research is the first to show what CIOs really
think about the role that IT plays in the business.
IT chiefs also believe that understanding between the IT
department and other business functions is on the rise, with 90%
saying that communications between IT and the business are
improving.
More than 75% say that the board understands the importance of
IT to the business, with just over 70% adding that they felt
sufficiently empowered by their boards.
When it comes to data and network security, however, the picture
is less rosy, with 66% of IT chiefs saying IT security is not
adequately funded by their organisations.
Business continuity also provides cause for concern among IT
leaders. More than 33% of respondents say their business continuity
plans are not robust, and 47% do not believe that their supply
chain’s business continuity plans are up to scratch.
Outsourcing is another contentious topic. The Computer Weekly
CIO Index reveals a strong backlash against outsourcing, with 75%
of IT directors reporting that outsourcing has not provided the
expected benefits.
However, most of the IT directors surveyed find that recruiting
in-house skills to meet their requirements is a problem. More than
70% say they are unable to get staff with the necessary skills.
Relationships with IT suppliers are reported to be “broadly
satisfactory” by 90% of IT directors, and software companies can
draw satisfaction from the perception that their products are
improving. More than 70% of IT leaders believe the quality of
third-party software is better than it was three years ago.
But software licensing is still a cause of frustration for many
IT directors. Only 33% believe that IT suppliers have become more
accommodating in the way they license software.
On the issue of data quality, IT directors sounded an optimistic
note with 66% saying that the quality of the data provided by users
is getting better.