IT Directions 2.0

Our second annual survey of CFOs and senior finance executives finds a surprising degree of optimism about technology, with companies not only prepared to spend more but also continuing to believe in IT as a source of strategic advantage. Given all the talk about IT as a "utility," not to mention CFOs' alleged tightfistedness (if not downright antipathy) regarding IT, the survey results suggest that finance leaders do in fact value technology and plan to invest accordingly. But there is room for improvement: CFOs are far from dazzled by the payback their companies have seen from IT, and many believe their companies have overbought. They are also strongly divided on the value of ROI analysis, and buying plans are highly varied, with no single technology qualifying as "hot."

Results are based on the responses of 262 CFOs and senior finance executives polled during the latter half of July. Approximately half of the respondents work for small companies (under $100 million in sales), while one-quarter work for midsize firms ($100 million to $1 billion) and one-quarter work for large enterprises ($1 billion-plus). In some cases, results may be +/- 100% due to rounding.

Compared with one year ago, your current IT budget is: Up 1% to 5%  29% Up 6% or more  19% Flat  24% Down 1% to 5%  18% Down 6% or more  13% Next year's IT budget compared with this year's will be: Up 1% to 5%  37% Up 6% or more  16% Flat  29% Down 1% to 5%  11% Down 6% or more  7%

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