Analytics and business intelligence has moved back to the top of the technology priority list for CIOs, according to the latest Gartner research into CIO priorities, followed by mobile technologies and Cloud computing — but the pressure is as IT leaders juggle multiple priorities.
Gartner Executive Programs surveyed more than 2300 CIOs worldwide as part of the research. The global news isn’t good: IT organisations will have to deliver on multiple priorities without an increase in their IT budget; CIO IT budgets are expected to be flat, increasing just 0.5 per cent, with declining IT budgets in North America and Europe. Asia Pacific CIOs however, expect IT budgets to be up by 3.4 per cent.
"Technology's role in the enterprise is increasing. This does not mean, however, that the role of the IT organisation is increasing," Mark McDonald, group vice-president for Gartner Executive Programs and Gartner Fellow, said in a statement.
"CIOs concentrating on IT as a force of operational automation, integration and control are losing ground to executives who see technology as a business amplifier and source of innovation. Effective leaders use technology, which includes IT, to strengthen the customer experience and eliminate costly internal distortions. They are using technology to 'amplify' the enterprise."
Gartner undertook the CIO survey was in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the analyst firm will outline the findings at its annual Gartner Predicts briefings in Australia and New Zealand between January 23 and February 3.
According to the Gartner, the survey shows CIOs increasingly consider technologies such as analytics and business intelligence, mobility, Cloud and social in combination rather than isolation to address business priorities.
They are also recognising that changing the customer experience requires changing the way the company interacts externally rather than how it operates internally.
|
Top 10 Business Priorities |
Rank |
Top 10 Technology Priorities |
Rank |
|
Increasing enterprise growth |
1 |
Analytics and business intelligence |
1 |
|
Attracting and retaining new customers |
2 |
Mobile technologies |
2 |
|
Reducing enterprise costs |
3 |
Cloud computing (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS) |
3 |
|
Creating new products and services (innovation) |
4 |
Collaboration technologies (workflow) |
4 |
|
Delivering operational results |
5 |
Virtualization |
5 |
|
Improving efficiency |
6 |
Legacy Modernization
|
6 |
|
Improving profitability (margins) |
7 |
IT Management |
7 |
|
Attracting and retaining the workforce |
8 |
Customer Relationship Management |
8 |
|
Improving marketing and sales effectiveness |
9 |
ERP Applications |
9 |
|
Expanding into new markets and geographies |
10 |
Security |
10 |
"Business strategies call for a combination of growth and operational efficiency,” McDonald said. “As reflected in the 2012 CIO Agenda survey findings, effective leaders see customers as the key factor in both of these strategic components, with the customer experience their focal point in reconciling potentially conflicting goals.”
At a glance
- 2335 CIOs took part in the research, representing more than $US321 billion in CIO IT budgets and covering 37 industries in 45 countries.
- 61 per cent of enterprises responding to the survey say they will be improving their mobile capability over the next three years. Most mobility strategies calls for becoming a market leader in their industry — so there will be significant competition as organisations seek to be ‘above average’ in their industries.
- CIOs rank growth as their top priority overall, particularly in regards to attracting and retaining customers and to creating products and services.
- 46 percent of CIOs reported their CIO IT budget would increase from 2011 to 2012 in terms of actual spending.
"Applying technology as part of amplifying the enterprise reflects both the changing nature of business strategies, and executive expectations about the role of technology in realising those strategies,” McDonald said.
"Mobility, social media, information and analytics can be used to re-imagine the customer experience, as well as sales and service channels. These technologies do more than automate or administer processes; they are the processes and the sources of value."
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