Brainstorm CIO Survey 2015 research report released

Issued by ITWeb
Johannesburg, May 17, 2016

The detailed 215-page analysis is based on the input from nearly 200 local CIOs and reveals how their role is changing amid a tough business environment, and how their needs are met, or not, by what local vendors are offering.

"With the 2014 benchmark in place, we were able to track trends and improvements across the industry and delve deep into SA's CIOs priorities and challenges - from budgeting and cost-saving, to digital transformation and skills retention, to balancing operational and innovation projects," says Ranka Jovanovic, ITWeb's editorial director.

A sizeable sample (188 CIOs, up from 158 in 2104) allowed for vertical sector analyses - resulting in five additional industry-specific mini-reports: financial services, public sector, industrial, ict and commercial, she adds.

Introduced in partnership with Telkom Business, Brainstorm CIO Survey aimed to establish a uniquely South African IT strategy benchmark report, and encouraged CIOs to tell it like it is when it comes to the relationship between technology and business, and their own role in this relationship.

The 2015 report finds the majority of CIOs' roles in SA are rapidly transforming. Asked what was changing in their roles, more than half of the CIOs allude to digital migration, closely followed by competition or disruptive forces in their industry. Other drivers are globalisation, shadow IT, mergers and acquisitions, and the emergence of the chief digital officer.

The report highlights a definite growth in the strategic roles CIOs are playing, with a strong focus on business alignment, company-wide productivity and efficiency, and new business development. A strong majority said they believed IT is seen to be a credible partner to business.

The biggest concern for local CIOs is the inability to implement projects fast enough to meet business goals. This is followed by lack of skills, inadequate budget to meet goals, pressure to achieve compliance with regulations, and legacy constraining new developments.

The report notes there was a drop in satisfaction with IT solution suppliers this year, too, notably in the specific areas CIOs highlighted as being most important to them, such as strategic alignment and time to market.

About the survey

Brainstorm CIO Survey 2015, run in association with Telkom Business, was conducted online during August and September. It was by invitation only, targeting CIOs from SA's top 1 000 corporates, as well as public sector organisations.

The executive summary of the results is available on ITWeb: https://secure.itweb.co.za/ciosurvey2015/index.php?resultsv2&Itemid=3004

The 215-page full report and the five industry-specific mini-reports are available from ITWeb's online store.

Purchase price:

Full report: R999 Mini-report: R250 FREE of charge for CIOs who responded to the 2015 survey.

The 2014 executive summary can be viewed here.