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According to a new report released by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) – business areas and IT staff are not aligned when pursuing digital transformation strategies. The report “From gatekeeper to enabler: the role of IT when digital transformation is the norm”, sponsored by BMC Software – or “From gatekeeper to enabler: the role of IT when digital transformation is the norm”, in free translation – shows examples of this disconnect. According to the survey, two-thirds (66%) of companies in the public and private sectors say they buy new software and solutions without involving IT staff – a situation that challenges IT's traditional role as a gatekeeper to new technologies.
The survey was conducted with executives from Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. Among the reasons for the lack of collaboration between areas in digital collaboration initiatives are:
• misalignment of objectives: business areas prioritize revenue growth and cost reduction, and IT teams prioritize integration and security;
• time pressure: 37% of respondents mention the slowness of IT-led procurement processes as a factor that leads them not to involve IT staff when purchasing new technologies.
However, despite many companies saying they ignore IT teams when buying new technology, 43% of respondents said they hold IT responsible if anything goes wrong with their digital transformation initiatives. And that can be risky if IT teams don't assess technologies in advance.
This apparent lack of collaboration seems wrong at first, given the generally positive view of respondents regarding the benefits of coordination between IT teams and the business areas. Notably, companies where there is collaboration between teams are much more confident to overcome the challenges of digital transformation. 89% of those who collaborate say they are confident to overcome obstacles, compared to 55% of those who do not.
Another factor to consider when analyzing the results of digital transformation is time itself. For companies that started their initiatives a year or two ago, 42% are realizing the benefits of digital transformation. For companies that have had digital transformation initiatives for 3 years or more, 63% respondents say they see the benefits.
According to Kevin Plumberg, editor of the report, digital transformation is not a unique and exclusive journey that some organizations are experiencing. “It has become the norm, and companies where IT teams are working closely with the business, rather than siled, are better positioned to manage the challenges that inevitably arise,” he says.
The survey was conducted with executives from Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America. Among the reasons for the lack of collaboration between areas in digital collaboration initiatives are:
• misalignment of objectives: business areas prioritize revenue growth and cost reduction, and IT teams prioritize integration and security;
• time pressure: 37% of respondents mention the slowness of IT-led procurement processes as a factor that leads them not to involve IT staff when purchasing new technologies.
However, despite many companies saying they ignore IT teams when buying new technology, 43% of respondents said they hold IT responsible if anything goes wrong with their digital transformation initiatives. And that can be risky if IT teams don't assess technologies in advance.
This apparent lack of collaboration seems wrong at first, given the generally positive view of respondents regarding the benefits of coordination between IT teams and the business areas. Notably, companies where there is collaboration between teams are much more confident to overcome the challenges of digital transformation. 89% of those who collaborate say they are confident to overcome obstacles, compared to 55% of those who do not.
Another factor to consider when analyzing the results of digital transformation is time itself. For companies that started their initiatives a year or two ago, 42% are realizing the benefits of digital transformation. For companies that have had digital transformation initiatives for 3 years or more, 63% respondents say they see the benefits.
According to Kevin Plumberg, editor of the report, digital transformation is not a unique and exclusive journey that some organizations are experiencing. “It has become the norm, and companies where IT teams are working closely with the business, rather than siled, are better positioned to manage the challenges that inevitably arise,” he says.
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