New Harvard Business Review research finds CIOs have a mandate to innovate

CIOs have a mandate to innovate, but the daily concerns of running IT and inadequate resources may be holding them back, according to a new report, "Business Transformation and the CIO Role," by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services.

Business leaders believe the CIO should lead technology-driven business innovation, according to the research, however many say their CIO spends too much time on cost control/expense management and managing IT crises. The study was based on surveys of 420 global business leaders.

The findings represent a mandate for CIOs. They need to fix IT and get it running efficently and effectively as quickly as possible so they can turn their time and attention to driving business innovation.

What's encouraging is that nearly one-third of respondents (32%) say that IT-driven business innovation is in their DNA and that it is a consciously pursued strategy throught the organization, while another 50% say they have pockets of such innovation.

These innovation-driven companies are identified in the report as "Innovation Accelerators," and they are significantly ahead of their competitors when it comes to IT innovation, according to the research, which was sponsored by Red Hat as part of the Enterprisers Project. These innovation-driven companies expect to see massive change over the next three years, particularly in how they engage with and learn about their customers, as well as in their business models, products and services, how employees do their work, and more.

Organizations that have made a commitment to IT-driven business innovation share six key characteristics, according to the research. These traits can help other companies seeking to transform their businesses.

What’s clear from the findings is that business leaders believe their CIOs should perform more strategic, business-focused role instead of merely focusing on the day-to-day duties of running their departments.

Find out the six key characteristics these Innovation Accelerators share, and use them as a roadmap for transforming your IT department. Download "Business Transformation and the CIO Role" to see how Accelerators have broken away from the pack, and how you can too.