Since CEOs began stepping up their demands that information-technology initiatives should (a) serve clear business goals and (b) generate a return on any investment made, CFOs and heads of business units have become closely involved in picking the critical projects to undertake. CEOs are part of that process less than a third of the time.
Who Makes the Final Decision For the Most Critical Technology Initiative in 2005?
Job Title – % of Respondents
CIO – 22.4%
CEO – 21.4
President/COO – 14.8
CFO – 9.7
Business unit lead executive – 6.5
VP, I.T./IS – 6.3
Director, I.T./IS – 5.6
Chief technology officer or Chief security officer – 4.1
Executive or Senior VP – 3.7
Departmental business manager – 2.4
Other – 3.5
Who’s Involved in the Financial Decision To Approve the Most Critical Technology Initiative in 2005?
I.T. Management – % of Respondents
CIO – 57.7%
Director, I.T./IS – 47.6
VP, I.T./IS – 38.9
Chief technology officer
Chief security officer – 25.1
Corporate Management – % of Respondents
Business unit lead executive – 48.3%
CFO – 45.4
Departmental business manager – 42.2
CEO – 30.5
President/COO – 29.8
Executive or Senior VP – 21.5
58% of CIOs are involved in the financial decision to approve critical technology projects
21% of CEOs make the final decision for the most critical technology initiative
45% of CFOs are part of the financial approval process, but just 10% have final sign-off
