Before the global economy took a nosedive in 2008, business leaders were looking to IT to help drive their companies’ growth efforts. They sought to transform business processes and operations with information, and wanted IT to play an active role in attracting customers, developing new products and services, and expanding into new markets.
When the economy fell off a cliff, however, companies put the brakes on nonessential spending. They slashed operational costs and reserved investment dollars for projects that had a clear, quick return. CIOs had to shift their focus to cutting costs and increasing efficiency.
As the upturn begins, CIOs must once again reconsider their priorities and update their agenda.Through its work with major companies and government agencies around the world, Accenture has identified five key priorities for enterprise IT in the months ahead. Some stem from the new business environment; others, from technological innovations and demographic and market shifts that were amplified by the crisis or sped on despite it. There are renewed opportunities to use IT for those willing to seize them.
1. Restructure as if the recession never ended.
2. Learn about cloud computing by using it.
3. Build products that tell customers what they want to know.
4. Exploit the Internet to sway online-savvy shoppers.
5. Give virtual workers real IT choices.
Click here to read the full report and analysis from the Accenture Institute for High Performance.