Digital transformation is widening the gap in thinking between IT and senior managers. This is putting CIOs under unprecedented pressure and straining relationships with other C-suite decision makers. There is a role for channel and services suppliers to assist with strategic thinking.
The new data from Apptio and Financial Times Focus, surveying 555 C-level & C-1 level business leaders in 12 countries, finds that close to half of global leaders (47%) agree that digital transformation has deepened the divide between IT and finance.
The report, entitled ‘Disruption in the C-Suite’ (download), highlights that:
In the UK, just 23% of C-suite respondents say that the CIO and the CFO are deeply aligned on tech strategy, compared to the global average of 30%
However, nearly two-thirds of global leaders (63%) say that the IT function needs greater influencing skills to deliver the change their business requires
Overall, CIOs are now considered the C-suite leader most effective at delivering change based on customer insight, even more than the CMO or CEO
Findings highlight that CIOs are now considered the C-suite leader most effective at delivering change based on customer insight, even more than the CMO or CEO. But in order for CIOs to take advantage of the enormous opportunity this poses to be the change-driver in their organization, CIOs need to communicate effectively with the rest of the business and influence all stakeholders. Seventy-one percent of finance leaders say that the IT function needs to develop greater influencing skills in order to deliver the change their business requires. IT leaders need to develop those communication skills within their teams and ensure that they are equipped with the right blend of technical, business and influencing skills.
