System iNetwork

January 4, 2010

Survey Says CEOs Looking to IT for Post-Recession Strategy

Sixty-two per cent of CEOs recognize that IT-enabled changes will be a key element in their post-recession strategy, while only 13 per cent disagree, according to a recent survey by Gartner. Better yet, preliminary results from the survey show 42 per cent of business leaders are already focusing more on revenue growth than cost control.

In the third quarter of 2009, Gartner conducted a targeted web-based survey of 190 senior business executives, 81 of whom were CEOs, which probed their views and priorities for 2010 and beyond. It examined companies in the U.S. and UK with annual revenues of more than $1 billion and specifically excluded technology service providers and government.

"Business leaders are gasping for growth after a long period holding their breath, and they are expecting to increase the importance of IT in their post-recession approach. It is critical that CIOs review business leaders' rapidly changing tactical business priorities and often unstated new expectations of where IT can help as the economy turns. CIOs are in a good position to have that conversion right now," notes Mark Raskino, a research vice president and Gartner fellow.

In contrast, in 2009, CEOs initially placed cost cutting at the top of their priorities to cope with the recession. In 2010, the focus for 71 per cent of business leaders is a return to revenue growth, Gartner says.

For more detail, check out http://www.gartner.com/resId=1250218.

Posted by cmaxcer at January 4, 2010 11:26 AM