Zero One: 10 Line-of-Business Tech Buyers
Find out how much they’re spending, what they’re buying, and whether or not they engage with the CIO.
In the rush to digitally transform business, line-of-business executives (LOBs) have seized the reins from the CIO in order to steer technology purchases. But how much of this is true? And who, exactly, are these LOBs? A recent Forrester study sought answers.
Forrester found that the CIO still controls a chunk of new project spending – forecasted $182 billion in 2018, largely for IT platforms and infrastructure. The CIO also controls practically all spending on maintenance fees, outsourcing agreements, telecommunication services, staff, servers, storage, network equipment and PCs, which Forrester calls MOOSE for maintaining and operating the organization, systems and equipment.
But LOBs are on the rise as tech spenders on new projects, Forrester says. Some control tech purchases from beginning to end. Others bring in the CIO after they’ve made the buying decision. Some collaborate closely from the get-go. Either way, there’s no question the LOB’s influence on tech is growing.
Based in Silicon Valley, Tom Kaneshige writes the Zero One blog covering digital transformation, AI, marketing tech and the Internet of Things for line-of-business executives. You can reach him at [email protected].