Juggler or plate-spinner? The CIO is not a circus act entertainer, but they need to keep their eyes on many different things at the same time and apply the right amount of action to ensure nothing gets dropped.

 Mandated to align technology and strategies, the CIO must juggle major issues, such as managing digital transformation, defining and driving an AI strategy, aligning data privacy and cyber security, and cost optimisation, especially with the tricky shift to the cloud, as well as handle everyday ongoing issues – like addressing skills shortages, working with the business, prioritising IT investments and resource allocation and overseeing development output. 

Undoubtedly, the CIO is under constant pressure, to maintain the status quo and keep the lights on, to apply technology to meet the business’ innovation needs, and to stay at the forefront of what’s happening in the world of technology.

The ITWeb Brainstorm CIO Survey is the definitive annual benchmark study to gauge the trends and challenges being faced by South Africa’s technology decision-making community.

Run in partnership with MTN Business, the survey relies on input from CIOs, or similar C-suite executives overseeing technology, and collates the overall responses to provide a vital look at how the space is changing. The resulting research report helps CIOs gauge their own challenges and provides the industry with a map book that plots the state of the local ICT decision-making community. The ITWeb Brainstorm editorial and research teams are able to use comparative data from previous years’ surveys to track how strategic priorities, levels of technology adoption and investment trends are changing, as well as giving deeper analyses of key vertical sectors.

The key findings of the CIO survey will be revealed at the annual ITWeb Brainstorm CIO Banquet, which will take place at The Polo Room, Inanda Club on Thursday, 17 October 2024. All valid respondents are invited to attend the banquet with a partner. This year, to celebrate 10 years of the banquet, we are looking to make this event extra special. Make sure you don’t miss out.

The full research report will be published on ITWeb and Brainstorm online in early 2025. The report is available free of charge to all valid survey respondents.

If you are in charge of the overall IT strategy and decision-making in your organisation – we invite you to add your input and contribute towards this industry-leading IT strategy benchmark.