The number of “pure” IT directors has dropped in the last five
years, even though there is more IT representation at board level,
according to a National Computing Centre (NCC) report.
Almost eight out of 10 organisations have IT representation in
the boardroom, compared with six out of 10 five years ago,
suggesting that firms do register IT’s strategic contribution more
keenly.
But the number of traditional IT directors has dropped from 27%
to 21% during the same period, as IT responsibility becomes lumped
together with other areas.
This added responsibility tends to slow down IT adoption, finds
the Benchmark of IT Strategy 2006 report.
“If the role of the director for IT and other areas is to ensure
that the organisation effectively absorbs new IT applications and
obtains the full business benefits, it may be necessary to slow the
pace of adoption to achieve this,” says NCC managing director
Stefan Foster.
IT professionals are losing out on the top jobs because of a
perceived lack of broader business skills.
“Boards are increasingly prioritising individuals with proven
business credentials and an ability to see change programmes
through to conclusion,” says Foster.
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