CIOs Inhabiting An Increasingly Complex World

New MORI research, conducted on behalf of Computer Associates, reveals that challenges in the management of IT are preventing CIOs from successfully conducting the two activities central to effective IT governance: managing IT like a business and delivering a quality service to the business.

Computer Associates' and MORI's annual survey of CIOs has revealed that despite high visibility of IT assets, CIOs feel it is difficult to gain an accurate overview of those assets. Management of assets is seen as essential to good IT governance, suggesting that the ability to appraise IT assets accurately will only grow in importance over the next 12 months. Complexity, seen as the enemy of the CIO, is also felt to be increasing, suggesting that obtaining a single picture of IT assets will become more difficult in future.

With regard to managing IT as a business, the study shows that a significant number of IT departments do not have agreed targets with their internal clients. Where targets do exist these centre around financial performance and delivery.

A significant proportion of IT services are outsourced, with those who have done so in the past year most likely to continue doing so. The high incidence of outsourcing specific projects suggests outsourcing may be undertaken to fill knowledge gaps in IT departments. While most feel they receive sufficient value from suppliers in general, a significant proportion feel security vendors could do more.

Many companies do not explicitly link supplier agreements to business priorities, despite the majority thinking it to be good practice. Those who already do link agreements to priorities strongly endorse such practice.

Technical details

MORI interviewed 130 CIOs (100 in UK, 30 in Republic of Ireland) by telephone. The sample was screened to ensure that respondent has responsibility for managing IT assets, processes and systems. Fieldwork conducted between 24 August and 28 September 2005.