A New Awareness: The Information Oriented Architecture

Executive Summary for the Report

The survey asked questions about the maturity of Information Oriented Architecture strategies, use and plans for data management and BI tools, movement toward cloud solutions, top IT-related challenges, and IT and business priorities. Three hundred eighteen enterprises responded from June to October 2011, 39% of which had revenues in excess of US$1B.

The headline finding is that more than half of enterprises (51%) surveyed now have developed an Information Oriented Architecture (IOA), a young concept in the IT field. Another top observation is that a large majority of enterprises (71%) are not yet planning parallel software development projects, such as ones involving Hadoop, despite the high level of buzz for the topic.

Additional interesting discoveries were:

• The #1 and #2 ranked IT priorities for 2012 were integration with operational processes and self-service BI.


• Data mashup is a hotter technology than Hadoop. Fourteen percent have already implemented data mashup or data virtualization compared to 7% for Hadoop.


• Of BI applications, traditional reporting is the most prevalent, having already been deployed by 71% of the survey takers.


• Dashboards, while not new, have been deployed by 51% and are at the top of the list of "currently being deployed" applications. Predictive analytics scored the highest among "plan to implement." The biggest IT challenges were information silos and data quality.


• Cloud adoption appears lower than the hype, with only 5% reporting extensive use and 51% with no plans for deployment.


• Data governance is growing in prominence. While only 17% of respondents have a program in place, 21% are currently in the implementation phase, with another 36% planning to do so. Only 27% have no plans.

What Are the IT Priorities for 2024?

Predicting specific IT priorities for 2024 with certainty is challenging due to the rapidly evolving nature of technology and the dynamic business landscape. However, based on current trends and emerging technologies, several key IT priorities are likely to remain relevant and gain prominence in 2024:

1. Digital Transformation: Organizations will continue to prioritize digital transformation initiatives to modernize processes, enhance customer experiences, and drive innovation. This includes adopting cloud technologies, leveraging data analytics, and implementing automation to optimize business operations and stay competitive in the digital age.

2. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, cybersecurity and data privacy will remain top priorities for organizations. Investments in advanced security measures, threat detection technologies, and compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA will be crucial to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining trust with customers.

3. Cloud Computing and Hybrid IT: The adoption of cloud computing will continue to accelerate, with organizations embracing hybrid and multi-cloud strategies to leverage the scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of cloud platforms. Managing hybrid IT environments, optimizing cloud costs, and ensuring seamless integration between on-premises and cloud resources will be key focus areas.

4. AI and Machine Learning: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play a central role in driving business innovation and automation across various industries. Organizations will invest in AI-driven solutions for predictive analytics, natural language processing, intelligent automation, and personalized customer experiences to gain insights and competitive advantages.

5. Data Management and Analytics: Data will remain a valuable asset for organizations, driving informed decision-making and unlocking new opportunities for growth. Investments in data management platforms, data governance frameworks, and advanced analytics capabilities will enable organizations to derive actionable insights from large volumes of structured and unstructured data.

6. Remote Work and Collaboration Tools: The shift towards remote and hybrid work models will continue to shape IT priorities, with a focus on enabling seamless collaboration and productivity for distributed teams. Investments in remote work technologies, video conferencing platforms, collaboration tools, and secure remote access solutions will support flexible work arrangements and employee empowerment.

7. Customer Experience and Engagement: Delivering exceptional customer experiences will be a strategic priority for organizations seeking to differentiate themselves in the market. Investments in customer relationship management (CRM) systems, omnichannel communication platforms, and personalized marketing strategies will enhance customer engagement and loyalty.

8. Sustainability and Green IT: As environmental concerns become increasingly prominent, organizations will prioritize sustainability initiatives and green IT practices to minimize their carbon footprint and promote corporate social responsibility. This includes optimizing energy efficiency, reducing electronic waste, and adopting eco-friendly technologies and practices.

9. Edge Computing and IoT: The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and the need for real-time data processing will drive the adoption of edge computing technologies. Organizations will invest in edge computing infrastructure, edge analytics capabilities, and IoT platforms to enable decentralized processing and improve latency-sensitive applications.

10. Resilience and Business Continuity: Building resilience against disruptions and ensuring business continuity will remain critical priorities for organizations in light of potential cyber threats, natural disasters, and other unforeseen events. Investments in disaster recovery solutions, backup and recovery strategies, and risk management frameworks will help organizations mitigate risks and maintain operational resilience.