Dive Brief:
- Nearly two-thirds of IT leaders say they are more focused on cost management and profitability than in the past, according to a Tuesday ServiceNow report conducted in partnership with research partner ThoughtLab.
- A similar proportion of IT leaders said their success is directly measured by impact on revenue, cost and strategy alignment, the survey of 500 global tech leaders found.
- As their focus on revenue sharpens, IT leaders expect a closer working relationship with their CEOs and other C-suite counterparts. Just 59% of IT leaders frequently work with the chief executive, but 70% anticipate that to change in the next two years.
Dive Insight:
As the potential of generative AI inspired businesses, enterprise technology leaders have received a profile boost as their role becomes even more ingrained into operations.
More than 3 in 5 tech execs say they are now active C-suite partners in formulating business strategy and change management, according to ServiceNow’s survey.
“I don’t look at it as stressful,” Kellie Romack, chief digital and information officer at ServiceNow, told CIO Dive. “I love having the seat at the table. I think more IT leaders need to lean into that.”
In addition to key technical skills — like cloud, infrastructure and cybersecurity — IT leaders say soft skills will hold high importance over the next two years. Project management, talent development and change leadership are seen as critical moving forward.
Most enterprises have spent the year honing generative AI strategies to overcome adoption roadblocks, such as workforce upskilling and risk management. Yet boardrooms have split sentiments when it comes to the ideal pace and current state of AI-readiness, according to a Deloitte Global report published last week.
CIOs are in a unique position to lead the business in the right direction and avoid the technology’s many pitfalls.
