Boardroom versus IT battles diminishing

The historic tension and divide between business executives and the IT department is diminishing, according to a survey of CIOs and business managers.

Results of the study show that 84 per cent of business managers and 76 per cent of CIOs all cite the better use of IT as the principle driver behind productivity gains in their companies over the past three years.

The survey, which was carried out by the Bathwick Group and sponsored by Accenture, questioned 307 executives in the UK and Ireland. There was an even split between CIOs and business managers.

Despite the apparent thawing of this traditionally frosty boardroom divide significant obstacles still remain. Over half (56 per cent) of the business managers believe IT is under-delivering against investments compared to 38 per cent of CIOs.

More alarmingly nearly one-third of all respondents (35 per cent of business managers and 27 per cent of CIOs) reported IT project failure rates of between 41 and 70 per cent.

Both sides of the business and IT divide are overwhelmingly in agreement that the simplification of processes is a key factor in improving the track record of IT projects and achieving productivity gains, but both also recognise the difficulties they face.

"Synergies across business units" was identified as the biggest challenge by 64 per cent of the business managers and 61 per cent of CIOs. Almost half of each group also cited increasing business ownership of major IT projects as a challenge.

Andrew Morlet, head of Accenture's strategic IT effectiveness practice, said in the report: "Fortunately, business and IT managers are beginning to get over the 'us versus them' mentality. The strong agreement between business and IT management on the nature of the challenge is encouraging. Aligning IT strategies to business objectives is one of the most fundamental factors for deriving value from technology."