ORLANDO - (Business Wire) Global economic problems are impacting IT budgets, however, the IT industry will not see the dramatic reductions that were seen during the dot.com bust, according to Gartner, Inc. At that time, budgets were slashed from mid double-digit growth to low single-digit growth.
“In a worst case scenario, our research indicates an IT spending increase of 2.3 percent in 2009, down from our earlier projection of 5.8 percent,” said Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner and global head of Research. “Developed economies, especially the United States and Western Europe, will be the worst affected, but emerging regions will not be immune. Europe will experience negative growth in 2009, the United States and Japan will be flat.”
Mr. Sondergaard provided the latest outlook for the IT industry during Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, which is taking place here through October 16. Gartner said the events of the past two weeks will have an impact on IT budgets in the fourth quarter, but it will not change 2008 substantially.
The IT industry went through more dramatic reductions during, and after, the recession of 2001. Mr. Sondergaard said many lessons were learned.
“We learned that in tumultuous times, CEOs want their executives and managers to be advisors and counselors, not just great implementers of directions given to them,” Mr. Sondergaard said. “What they want now most of all is agile leadership. Leadership that can guide us through simultaneous cost control and expansion at the same time.”
Organizations now view IT as a way to transform their businesses and adopt operating models that are much leaner. Other reasons that IT will not see more severe reductions include:
- IT is embedded in running all aspects of the business
- The shift to multi-year IT programs aligned with business, and they are difficult to cut immediately
- IT spending decreases lag the economy by at least two quarters
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Gartner analysts are discussing the key issues facing the IT industry during Gartner Symposium/ITxpo. This event is the IT industry's largest and most-strategic conference, providing business leaders with a look at the future of IT. Nearly 6,000 senior business and IT strategists will gather for the insights, tools and solutions they need to ensure their IT initiatives are key contributors to and drivers of their enterprise's success. Gartner's annual Symposium/ITxpo events are key components of attendees' annual planning efforts. They rely on Gartner Symposium/ITxpo to gain insight into how their organizations can use IT to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency. Additional information is available at www.gartner.com/symposium/us.
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Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,000 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 80 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.
Gartner
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