Toshiba chief criticises corporate IT investments

UK companies risk being left behind by their competitors if they neglect to understand the importance of technology.

The claim came from Alan Thompson, UK MD of Toshiba, in an exclusive silicon.com video interview. He also said that if companies want a full return on their technology investments, they have to change the way technology is currently being implemented.

"Managers have to make sure the existing technology is used efficiently and deployed for the present. If company directors are failing to absorb the existing technologies, how can they cope in the future," he said.

Thompson added that IT managers need to rethink their business strategies to take full advantage of technology or risk losing out on IT investment.

His view is mirrored by research published this week by management consultancy AT Kearney.

The report highlights the fact that companies' approach to the integration of IT with ebusiness strategies varies from country to country, with Europe lagging behind its US counterparts.

According to the report, CEOs of US companies reported a higher level of investment and activity in ebusiness strategies than European firms: with 81 per cent compared to 72 per cent developing or maintaining online projects.

More than half of US CEOs cited the impact of technology and ebusiness as their main challenge over the next three years, compared to only 25 per cent of European executives

AT Kearney surveyed 251 CEOs from 26 countries across ten industry segments.

You can watch the full interview with Alan Thompson in the IT Director Channel (http://www.silicon.com/a38287 ).