CIOs around the globe are more determined than ever to achieve digital transformation within their organizations despite setbacks experienced over the past year, according to a survey by Logicalis.
The survey, which polled 890 CIOs across 23 countries, unearthed surprising findings this year. Although CIOs are determined to achieve digital transformation, optimism about their strides toward success has waned over the last 12 months.
While only 11 percent report their organizations have “no desire” for transformation, those that ideologically embrace digital transformation have made only minimal advancements to date:
■ Just 5 percent classify their organizations as “digital innovators,” down from 6 percent in last year’s survey.
■ Fewer CIOs (19 percent) see their organizations as early adopters today, a step back from last year’s 22 percent.
■ However, the proportion of CIOs that characterize themselves as part of an early majority with digital transformation rose from 45 percent last year to 49 percent this year, illustrating that, despite difficulties, IT leaders are moving ahead with digital transformation plans.
Overcoming Difficulties
The main barriers to delivering digital transformation, CIOs say, include complexity, cost, culture, skills and security issues. Notably, 44 percent of CIOs cite the complexity of legacy technology as their top obstacle, while 50 percent point to cost, 56 percent name organizational culture as their largest issue, 34 percent say it’s a lack of skills, and 32 percent identify security as their biggest hurdle.
Far from discouraged, CIOs around the world have big plans for overcoming these digital transformation barriers:
■ 51 percent say they plan to replace and/or adapt existing infrastructure.
■ 51 percent plan to attempt culture change within their organizations.
■ 38 percent will address skills shortages through increased training and development.
■ 31 percent expect to invest in extra security capabilities.
“The way businesses view technology is undergoing an exciting yet fundamental shift,” says Vince DeLuca, CEO of Logicalis US. “The goal behind technology is no longer simply about implementing and managing tools that enable people to do their jobs. In a digitally transformed enterprise, it’s about giving people access to the information they need to fuel business agility and growth and to empower collaboration that will create business models no one has yet imagined. Digital transformation is the foundation upon which this new way of doing business will be built, and as this year’s Global CIO Survey indicates, IT leaders around the world not only recognize this, but they are determined to provide the platform their organizations need to embrace the change that is to come.”
