Seven Changes Driving the

Future of IT

Key findings from a new global survey on the Changing Role of IT

New research commissioned by CA Technologies and conducted by Vanson Bourne illustrates how radically the role of IT is changing in today’s business—and not always to the benefit of IT leaders and staffers.

The survey of 1,300 senior IT leaders from large organizations in 21 countries explored the IT department as it is today and what it might become in the future.

Change 1. Business is IT, and IT is the business

Business is growing more tech savvy, and controls more of the IT budget.

More than one-third (35%) of IT spending is occurring outside of the IT department today – and that number is expected to grow to 44% in

three years.

IT touches the customer now, more than ever

All online customer touches – websites, mobile, even interactive voice response – involve technology, whether or not the IT department is involved

Change 2. The CIO is now more likely to report to the CEO

As a measure of how strategic technology has become to the business, more CIOs now report to the CEO than ever before

Yet CIOs are Less Likely to Think of the IT Department as Strategic

Technology is important, not IT…

Change 3. Greater spending on new business services

IT spending overall is moving away from “lights on” towards new business initiatives. Spending on new products and services is expected to grow in the the next three years from 49% to 59% of the total IT budget.

Change 4. IT is becoming a consultant or broker to the business

• Broker, Consultant, or Sole Provider?

• 39% of respondents now see the IT department as a service broker or consultant to the line of business, rather than a sole-source provider of IT services.

Change 5. Everyone sees change coming, but there is disagreement on what it means

• IT Functions: Who Will be Responsible in Five Years? – Stay the same as today: 28%

– Some IT functions will move to other departments but IT will remain a separate specialized department: 34%

– Most IT functions will move to other departments but IT will remain a separate specialized department: 17%

– All IT functions will be incorporated into other departments and IT specialists will report to LOB mgmt.: 8%

– All IT in the organization will be outsourced: 13%

Change 6. Technical roles shrink, while business roles grow

• “Which of the following best describes the primary role of IT within your organization currently and in three years’ time?”

– Technical Roles

• Ensuring the organization’s critical data is secure

• Maintaining the organization’s infrastructure & apps

• Providing technology support to employees

• Fixing problems as they arise

– Business Roles

• Strategic business partner and advising the business

• Improving the customer experience

• Driver of new business

• Developer of new, innovative products/services

Change 7. Today’s IT organizations are not quantifying the value they

provide to the business. – Measure benefits of current IT investments

– Share key performance metrics with the business

– Model how a shift in IT investment impacts business

The danger: If IT can’t prove value …

… then IT won’t have the credibility it needs to act as a consultant or a broker to the business!

Act now, before it is too late to shape your future

IT leaders need to understand the full scope of

the changes taking place in IT, learn the value

that only IT can provide to the business, and get

the specific guidance needed to evolve their role

and increase IT’s relevance.

Download the white paper, TechInsights

Report: The Changing Role of IT and What To

Do About It