More than half (59%) of IT professionals say their organisations are unprepared for the digital business of the next two years.
This was revealed in a global survey by research and advisory firm, Gartner. The firm noted this finding highlights a real concern. "Uneasiness about how well IT organisations are prepared reflects skills deficits in both technological and non-technological areas."
To determine these findings, Gartner surveyed 948 clients across 30 countries in North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific and Middle East and Africa, Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe in the first quarter of this year.
The survey respondents included IT professionals representing various job categories and technology disciplines. The respondents were asked about their role in their organisations' efforts to transform to meet the challenges of digital business.
In terms of Gartner's definition, a digital business is the creation of new business designs by blurring the digital and physical worlds.
The survey's findings show only 41% of IT professionals believe their IT organisations are ready for digital business. Meanwhile, 29% of those surveyed said engagement with the demands of digital business would be their primary duty or a significant part of their duties.
"IT professionals indicate their investment priorities, infrastructure changes, skills development and business-IT interactions are in flux, and that they are unsure how their IT organisation will make it through any digital transformation," said John Hagerty, VP and distinguished analyst at Gartner.
"For some, change is coming too fast. For others, it's not coming fast enough. Many know they need to change, to think and act differently, but they struggle with these shifts. Many find it hard to balance today's demands, including simply keeping their organisations running with tomorrow's must-haves."
Gartner is not the only research firm that has found IT organisations are unprepared for digital transformation.
According to research done by EMC: "Most South African CIOs and business leaders believe they are not at all prepared for the technological shifts taking place in the economy, with the result that their current business plans will have lost their relevance within only three years."
Some 91% of the surveyed IT professionals are in no doubt they have a role to play in their organisations' digital transformation, according to Gartner.
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