IT directors must focus on delivering strategic insight
and leadership to the business, based on their understanding of
technology and the connected economy, Gartner will tell IT
directors this week.
At the analyst group's annual ITxpo, Gartner analyst John
Mahoney is presenting several sessions as part of the "next step
for the CIO" track, which covers how IT directors can build on IT's
strong internal focus to deliver growth and results.
Mahoney believes that IT departments should not only be aligned
with the goals of the business, but should work more closely with
business users.
"The IT organisation is not simply a contract-driven supplier,"
according to Mahoney. "Rather, it should be fully engaged with the
risks and success of the enterprise and with planning its future
direction."
Another key issue for IT chiefs to resolve will be how to
satisfactorily manage their in-house and outsourced IT
functions.
Mahoney recommends that CIOs try to get the right mix of
outsourced and in-house IT, based on differentiating between core
and non-core business requirements and taking account of market
characteristics.
Whatever the final balance between the two, he said IT directors
should treat the integration of internal and external resources as
a multisourcing discipline requiring specialist management
skills.
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