Business execs call IT shots

Business chiefs are increasing their involvement in the IT decision-making process, confusing operations and crossing wires between departments, researchers say.

Research conducted by the UK-based IT consultancy, iCore, shows a lack of understanding between computing specialists and business managers is often the single biggest barrier to growth.

"This is followed by the desire of IT specialists to maintain control of systems and a lack of communication between departments," it found.

Other issues highlighted by the research were:

organisations' mistrust of computing systems, with nearly two thirds of business managers spending time checking their IT systems every day, compared with only half spending time checking other parts of their business operations; and

that although IT departments should work closely with business managers there is still an element of 'them and us' within large organisations.

"Computing personnel and consultants should make a special effort to translate the complex IT systems they control into business language rather than techno-babble, which often alienates them from senior business managers," iCore advised.

IT professionals' decisions overruled by executives in US

The growing trend of IT decision-making power shifting from IT professionals to business executives was recently illustrated in a survey by the global IT research company, IDC.

When IDC conducted a survey of 280 US business executives, half said they considered themselves "a key part" of their companies' IT decision processes.

Additionally, over 30 per cent claimed their level of influence in the IT decision-making process is increasing.

"With business executives spending an average of 26 per cent of their time dealing with IT on a business level, leaving technology decisions up to the IT professionals is a thing of the past," said John Gantz, chief research officer at IDC.

Business chiefs rank IT infrastructure highest

Another recent survey, conducted by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), revealed just how highly business executives value their IT departments.

They said their biggest fear for business continuity in the event of a terrorist attack would be losing their IT infrastructure.

Fifty-eight per cent of UK businesses surveyed by the Institute said they most feared damage to their IT infrastructures compared to 'loss of people' at 54 per cent.