IT Business balance survey 2009 |
Scanning the dark clouds of the current crisis for a silver lining? Take a look at the relationship between IT and the Business. The difficult environment is providing an unprecedented opportunity for IT leaders to show their added value and significantly increase their impact at board level.
This is one of the surprising findings of the third edition of Deloitte’s IT-Business balance survey, published today. As in previous years, “2009 Survey on IT-Business Balance: Shaping the relationship between business and IT for the future” explores some of the key themes that are changing the relationship between IT and the Business.
Against the background of the worst recession in 70 years, the report queries both IT and business professionals about their interaction and evolving roles. The 2009 edition finds that IT is under tremendous pressure to deliver business value. Although the IT voice is still not sufficiently heard at board level, both IT managers and their business counterparts confirm that the crisis has intensified fruitful dialogue between the two sides.
Respondents express cautious approval of IT outsourcing, a decision increasingly taken jointly by IT and the Business. An alarming finding: there is a general lack of awareness about the severity of the threat posed to IT security, making it difficult to justify the investing in countermeasures.
Don’t waste a good crisis
“The role the CIO plays in the Business is gaining in importance,” says Rik Vanpeteghem, CEO Deloitte Belgium. “We are witnessing a clear evolution, from mere technology implementer to trusted business adviser. This is a fundamental trend, which reflects the imperative for Business and IT to get closer to face today’s challenges.”
The current economic context has permitted CIOs to act as leaders and intensify their dialogue with the Business side. Hence the crisis is an opportunity not to be missed to better anchor the role of the CIO as advisor and strategist. Organisations must build business skills within IT and ensure that the integration, and thus alignment, between Business and IT trickles down to all strategic, tactical and operational levels.
IT Business balance survey 2009
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