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Security and cost control were seen as key business imperatives and top business trends for 2004.

Mumbai , Dec. 16

INFRASTRUCTURE will be the top priority for Indian CIOs (chief information officers) in the coming year.

A survey of global CIOs conducted by Gartner reveals that issues such as people and competencies, security and growth through innovation will also feature high on the list of priorities for Indian CIOs.

According to Mr Jose Ruggero, Vice-President, Executive Programs, Asia-Pacific for Gartner, infrastructure has been neglected over the past four to five years, with little actual IT investment being made. But, businesses are beginning to realise the importance of infrastructure, especially with regard to the stability and agility it lends to their systems.

Among the highlights of the study, which covers a sample of 900 CIOs, is the fact that they believe that infrastructure is key to delivering enterprise agility; they expect cost savings in the area of infrastructure through consolidation and outsourcing.

Second, CIOs in India see the use of information in products and services as well as the need for revenue growth as their top business priority.

Third, the management priorities of CIOs apparently relate to developing leadership in the IS (information services) senior team and making IS more service-oriented.

The global survey revealed that the top management priority for CIOs across the world would be demonstrating the business value of IS/IT and developing leadership in the IS Senior Team.

According to Mr Subrato Basu, Senior Director, Executive Programs, Asia-Pacific, the survey gave CIOs, CEOs, technologists and the business community feedback on what they could look forward to in the coming year.

Security and cost control were seen as key business imperatives and top business trends for 2004. In fact, security concerns and cost control were seen acting as a drag on the growth of many enterprises through 2004.

IS budget growth is also expected to be staggered over time, with more than 40 per cent of CIOs surveyed suggesting that IT growth will return to the sector in the latter stages of 2004.

Overall, IT budgets are set to pick up by an average of 1.2 per cent for most enterprises. Evidently, enterprises that are fighting for survival and which are in cost-cutting mode still see IT budgets declining by 4.4 per cent.

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