Strategic Insights Survey An IT Leadership Perspective - Harvey Nash

5 Comment and conclusionsComment by PA ConsultingIt’s the EconomyAs the global economy has cooled and uncertain economic times lay ahead, we hadsomewhat expected that there would be a renewed call for IT leaders to have anincreased level of involvement in business and strategic issues. This does not appear tobe the case for all IT leaders, at least not in the classical sense.What the call does appear to herald for the majority of IT leaders is a return to a backoffice,operational task focused on efficiency gains and incremental improvements. Theeconomic threat has pushed IT into the safety of its comfort zone and away from itspotential.This may, however, prove to be a blessing in disguise. Today’s IT leader desires to bea strategic leader. They want to be seated at the board. They are ambitious and seekchallenges, and we expect that they will act on their desires and create a strategic rolefor themselves with or without a directive from the Board. To an extent, at the top firmsand the highest CIO levels this has occurred, but it would be wrong to claim this is anindustry-wide trend for all IT leaders. Initiatives that IT leaders have launched, such ascollaborative efforts with suppliers and customers, will help demonstrate the value of ITto the business and propel them to prominence as a valued member of the top strategicmanagement team. Their aspirations will not only deliver on their personal ambitions,but also that of the organisation.The Promise of InnovationInnovation is critically important to any business, and IT leaders can be rightly proud oftheir record in innovation activities. The overwhelming majority of businesses, 83 percent, look to IT to innovate with technology to improve competitive advantage, and IThas responded.Additionally, innovation collaboration seems to be happening more and morefrequently, with success being experienced more often also. Unsurprisingly, those whoare successful at innovation get the highest returns and as a result do more collaboratingthan average.While the majority of respondents collaborate with their suppliers, it is also worth notingthat successful companies are also more likely to collaborate with their customers andprofessional services firms. Additionally, successful companies are also twice as likely asaverage to collaborate with competitors.2008 Strategic Insights Survey - An IT Leadership Perspective 39