The current role of IT and the one that business leaders need them to play is creating both friction and opportunity within the discipline. According to the 2018 Insight Intelligent Technology Index, 56 per cent of IT decision makers agree that the department struggles to adapt to an expanding role that includes both adopting innovation initiatives while keeping core systems running effectively.

As companies turn to IT to help them navigate systemic cultural and technological changes, business leaders have thrust IT into a state of change with increasing roles and responsibilities. But the infrastructure, budget and clear roadmap forward to manage complex IT challenges and transform the business have yet to emerge, according to the vast majority of the 200 IT professionals queried in the study.

Emma de Sousa, Managing Director UK and Vice President Marketing EMEA at Insight said, “organisations have become acutely aware of the critical role technology now plays in overall business strategy, from enabling a more productive and connected workforce to increasing market share and customer loyalty. The Insight Intelligent Technology Index signifies how competing demands on IT are inhibiting their ability to plan and innovate.”

The issues underscoring why IT decision makers feel they may not be set up for success also provide a good starting point for where business leaders and IT leaders can begin to collaborate, including: 

·        Competing demands and not enough resources to effectively support the organisation (79%)

·        Request of IT to support innovation, despite existing processes, practices and business operations not evolving to allow them to accomplish this (33%)

·        Lacking clearly defined roles and responsibilities within the organisation (30%)

IT is still perceived as a cost center when businesses want and need more.IT budgets have long been a pain point for businesses, an issue that continues to intensify, with 79 per cent saying monitoring budgets and costs is a top technology concern. 

Additionally, almost two in five respondents describe IT as being an even mix of cost centre and innovation centre with just over a fifth of respondents viewing their department as a cost centre.

Emma added, “while we have been talking about the growing need for IT to both manage daily operations and be a strategic partner for transformation, many companies still have a long way to go when it comes to leveling the divide and creating a competitive advantage through innovation. Index results suggest more businesses are putting an emphasis on managed services to get there. If this happens, the look and feel of IT departments will change dramatically and businesses will start to see even greater IT-driven business outcomes.”

You can download a copy of the full whitepaper at www.uk.insight.com