Global CIO Survey 2008 - Innovator vs Operator - Capgemini

Capgemini Consultingthe way we see itChanging the business’sperception of IT - the biggestleadership challengeTackling the IT function culture andperformance measures are criticalleadership challenges for any CIO.However, it is not enough to changebehaviour within IT unless it iscombined with a similar focus onchanging the business’s perception ofthe IT function and its role in theorganisation. 75% of our CIOsinterviewed said that changingbusiness culture was a far greaterchallenge than implementingeffective IT.How is this change in perception tobe achieved? CIOs must workalongside business colleagues toimprove their own understanding ofthe organisational requirements, andconversely to increase theorganisation’s understanding of IT.Responses showed that CIOs who wereseen as drivers of business innovationwere likely to be participants inbusiness strategy planning.Also, businesses where the businessleadership understands IT were morelikely to see the IT function as aninitiator of business innovation (75%as opposed to 61%).There is further evidence for theimportance of a close business-ITrapport. Members of the “TopInnovator” group discussed earlierwere highly likely to report that theirbusiness leadership thoroughlyunderstands IT, and that there areeffective relationships between IT andthe business.Other ways to improve the image ofthe IT function include involving thebusiness in IT strategy and decisionmaking. Fostering a working style andculture of informality and opennesswill also help, as will IT performancemeasures that focus on value.Figure 11: Impact of the businessleadership team understanding ITDisagreeNeutralAgreeThe business leadership teamthorougly understands IT?0% 20% 40% 60% 80%IT function is one of the sources of business innovation(% of CIOs agreeing)Figure 12: Impact of IT function’sparticipation in business strategyplanningFullparticipationLimited to3%no participationTo what degree does the IT functionparticipate in the business strategy?17% 26% 42% 15%32%32%27%6%0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%The business thinks the IT function is able todrive business innovation (% of CIOs)Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree‘‘Our open culture isideal for innovation. It isinformal, nonhierarchical,and veryresult-oriented.’’Global CIO Survey 2008 15