On the vendor side, we do see changes in buying behavior due to economic conditions - and this was a subject of discussion at last week's Gartner BI Summit. I blogged a bit about it and so when I saw this update
Gartner Highlights Seven Great Concerns for CEOs in 2009 from Gartner on the CEO perspective this morning cross my Tweetdeck.... I had to post a quick link here.
Here's the take away. "CIOs should plan for extraordinary requests in 2009 for work and changes."
Now what were the 7 top concerns that are going to shape your IT agenda?
Read the Gartner
press release, but here's a quick run down Pot Pie style...
1) Restructuring: You name it - layoffs (who, when, impact), financial system meltdown, mergers & acquisitions, business model failure points (what worked yesterday, is broken today)
Gartner recommends "CIOs must be prepared to clear the table of current plans and start again, deliver significant cost reduction, deliver significant headcount reduction, cancel some major projects no longer aligned with survival and ensure that all outsourcing partners are viable."
2) Can't Write Off Fast Enough: optimize what will keep you afloat to grow and minimize in every other way. Increased exposure to do due diligence on acquisitions, project company health to press, fend off talent raids and manage layoff culture issues. Ouch.
Gartner recommends that CIO's build out a SWAT team to tackle urgent emerging projects. Great idea.
3) Loss of Business and Governmental Trust: Watch any news show or your fave news site and you see this erosion of trust - as Gartner indicates, an intangible asset.
The good news, and here's where I get a big huge smile, IT can help here. As Gartner predicts a " strengthening of "data driven" management culture as the risks of moving forward with insufficient data become far less acceptable."
4) Globalization Instability: Tension will grow as developed and emerging nations experience disparity of growth, policy impacts and economic futures. This will impact many areas like employee outsourcing, energy supplies and costs, supply sourcing issues and concerns. Gartner recommends that CIO's get prepared for the "shifts and challenges" this represents but I didn't think this advice had a clear direction.
5) New Major Regulation Coming: UH. YEAH. If you take the government dime, tis a new ball game. Also in general there will be increased oversight. Think of the impact across many industries - if healthcare reform in the U.S. actually happens, if we have continued impacts from global warming, if an international currency emerges, etc. But even if these things don't happen, just the amount of oversight and transparency that will be needed to manage to new regulations across industries like financial services, utilities and others. Gartner's advice here is that IT has to have a flexible approach to address regulation w/in processes that they may not have ever (for some industries) faced. For others, you are going to have tune those regulation issues to heightened note.
6) Government as the New Emerging Market: This one pains me personally because I know innovation and long term growth for society is typically driven by the private sector, but there is a shift to government driving growth because they have the money. This means that because funds are coming from the government you have to prepare to play their way so Gartner recommends that CIO's get familiar with the new policies and procedures when you have to deal with the gov.
7) Green Is Not Going Away: This was interesting to see that while Gartner doesn't see sustainability being "top of mind", it will have a place at the table. I think it is wise to heed Gartner's advice that on the tree of impact on environmental sustainability, IT operations is low hanging fruit. Be prepared to be the group that comes to mind and have a plan.
So some good points and advice this morning from Gartner as I also peruse other important info like how awesome folks are
using analytics to predict the winner of the NCAA men's basketball tourney. I could have TOLD these guys the winner is going to be UNC. It's all up here in the Pot Pie's mental computer (and Carolina blue heart).
Have a great day! Tomorrow I am going to post more about my plans for SAS Global Forum in DC.
As Business Intelligence Product Marketing Manager for SAS, I’m responsible for the Global message direction, strategy and marketing of SAS business intelligence. More on me. About the pot pie, I'm a southern girl, and that's comfort food. But food for thought -- I can explain.