The collaboration imperative

Added by The Editor, 2 months ago.

Leave Comment

Collaboration with business partners and customers is key to the future growth of global business, according to a recent study from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

IT analysts expect IT directors and CIOs to adapt their corporate IT security strategy to support the CEO's plans by opening up networks and IT systems to business partners.

On behalf of sponsor IBM, the EIU interviewed 1,130 CEOs globally on their views of the enterprise of the future. Collaboration and partnership was the focus for 71 percent, while 38 percent of CEOs expected to keep work within their organisations.

"CEOs told us they are pursuing more collaborative models to gain efficiencies, fend off competitive threats and avoid commoditisation. Their end goal is to offer customers a differentiated value proposition," say the report's authors.

The EIU report also found that CEOs were prepared to search worldwide for sources of expertise, resources and assets that could help differentiate their businesses. "Finding the right capabilities is much more important than finding the cheapest," the report stated. CEOs said that centres of excellence need to be integrated globally so that the best capabilities, knowledge and assets can be used wherever required.