CEOs Place More Faith in IT Leaders

CEOs and business owners are placing more faith in IT leaders and their contributions, but that faith hasn't yet translated into perceived financial impact or valued-advisor status. These are the findings of a recent survey from global staffing and HR services firm Adecco Group. The company polled 500 CEOs and business owners, and the results indicate that IT leaders are rising in stature with top executives, but they still have work to do if they are to have a more powerful voice when it comes to major business decisions. For now, CIOs can take encouragement from the increased recognition and appreciation of their contributions. "One of the striking points of the survey has to be the level of confidence today's CEO is placing in the CIO," says Jack Cullen, president of Modis, Adecco's IT staffing subsidiary, which released a portion of the findings. "This is a ringing endorsement for a company's CIO." Especially encouraging is the healthy outlook on IT spending, which Cullen said is "deemed critical to the company's bottom line." That said, CEOs still aren't equating IT department success with actual bottom-line results to the extent that they do with other departments. And they are not including CIOs among their most trusted advisors.