Nearly two thirds of UK CIOs believe they do not have
clear or realistic business objectives, according to a survey by
research company
Vanson Bourne.
The survey of 125 UK CIOs and senior IT decision-makers,
commissioned by
international IT services company Atos Origin, showed that
while some CIOs have made progress by increasing their influence
within the business, many still struggle to balance the role of
managing the IT infrastructure with the demands of business
strategy.
Three quarters (76%) of those surveyed did not consider
themselves a strategic influencer within the business. More than
half (56%) described themselves as a "manager of IT and of
outsourced IT suppliers", which was over twice as many as those
that considered themselves a "strategic influencer within the
business" (26%).
Unrealistic and unclear business objectives were named as the
top barrier to success by 61% of respondents, while legacy systems
and lack of budget were also high on the list.
To do their job more effectively, 59% of CIOs said they would
need "increased interest and involvement of the business in IT
strategy and planning"; 54% required more IT budget; and 41% a
"better understanding of business drivers."
The survey results also showed that UK CIOs were swamped with
demands from the business and from external suppliers to manage
budgets, encourage innovation and support the business, according
to John Stevenson, chief operating officer, Atos Origin.
"Many CIOs find their time is preoccupied with managing multiple
IT suppliers and relationships, without the appropriate internal
infrastructure and governance, leaving them little time to focus on
developing their role within the business. This often impacts the
ability of the IT department to provide innovative solutions that
enable the company to be more agile and, ultimately, increase their
business advantage," said Stevenson.
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