Businesses in Canada uncertain about implementation of IT, new study reports

Developing e-business applications and keeping up with new technology are the two top issues for Canada’s information technology managers, a new study reports. The survey, released by Athabasca University and CIO Canada magazine, also concluded that Canadian businesses aren’t sure how successfully IT is being used, although they realize it is important to their jobs. The email poll of 3,195 IT managers and professionals from across Canada was conducted last November by Surveysite.com. When asked to identify the most important IT issues to Canadian organizations, with up to 11 responses suggested, those surveyed listed four top items: keeping up with new technology; system security; managing users’ expectations and developing e-business applications. But when the question was limited to the single most important issue, the order changed. Developing e-business applications jumped into top spot, followed by keeping up with new technology and managing users’ expectations. Systems integration, which had not even placed in the top four general topics, completed the list. John Pickett, publisher of CIO Canada, and Peter Carr of Athabasca University expect most attention will be paid to negative comments made in the survey regarding the impact of IT on users. Respondents were presented with the statement that the changing focus of jobs to include work telecommuting, e-mail and the use of computers has little or no negative impact on employees’ skills for dealing with people. Forty three per cent disagreed, while only 32 per cent concurred. Asked if their organization had managed the introduction of IT well, 37 per cent said no versus 27 per cent who said yes. When offered the statement "In my organization, IT has not increased the stress level of employees," 55 per cent disagreed against 20 per cent who agreed. One notable anomaly is the perception managers have of their own companies as opposed to the industry in general. A slight plurality, 38 per cent, do not believe Canada has been able to exploit or utilize IT as effectively as the U.S. This compares with 35 per cent who do accept that statement. But when the question was raised of the individual’s organization working as effectively as its American counterparts, 40 per cent agreed versus 31 per cent who disagreed. A near majority, 49 per cent, think Canada has been able to exploit IT as effectively as the rest of the world, while 48 per cent believe their individual companies can compete globally. One quarter of respondents did not feel their organizations were competitive internationally, with another 22 per cent underselling Canada’s effectiveness worldwide.

Businesses in Canada uncertain about implementation of IT, new study reports

News | 01/29/2001 5:00 am EST

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