Execs' Understanding of IT's Importance Grows

In the last several years, a better understanding of the strategic role that IT has in disrupting entire business models has taken hold among many senior executives. To underscore this, the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network, an advocacy group, collaborated with solution provider Dimension Data to survey 250 business leaders and found that they do indeed understand how technology is more important today than five years ago. Yet only 14 percent said they are very good at embracing innovative technologies, while 15 percent said they are very good at executing IT transformations. Major obstacles to adoption include gaining consensus and support for new tech investments; determining the needs and optimal solution available; minimizing information security risk, vulnerability and threats; and integrating back-end systems with customer-facing channels. The trouble is that not enough leaders are sufficiently informed about IT to determine what constitutes a strategic technology investment, the survey shows. Putting these factors together, it's clear that business leaders need help from trusted IT solution provider partners in the channel.