Companies Cautious About New Technology, Research Shows
Tech Execs More Likely to be Early Adopters than Their Creative Counterparts
MENLO PARK, Calif., March 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers are willing to wait in long lines to get their hands on the latest technologies, but businesses are less eager, according to new research from staffing specialists Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group. Only 17 percent of CIOs and 10 percent of advertising and marketing executives said their companies are early adopters of technology.
Personal expectations are a different story, however: Nearly all (94 percent) technology executives and three-quarters of creative executives agreed it's at least somewhat important for leaders in their department to try out technical innovations.
View an infographic of the research.
CIOs and advertising and marketing executives were asked, "Which of the following best describes the pace at which your company adopts new technology? Would you say you are ...?" Their responses:
| IT Executives |
Creative |
|
| A first mover (always pursues the latest trends) |
17% |
10% |
| Middle of the pack (observes other companies' use before pursuing) |
51% |
44% |
| Slow and steady (very cautious about making major technology decisions) |
32% |
47% |
| 100% |
101%* |
CIOs and advertising and marketing executives were also asked, "How important is it for leaders in your department to personally try out and be early adopters of emerging technologies?" Their responses*:
| IT Executives |
Creative |
|
| Very important |
40% |
30% |
| Somewhat important |
54% |
45% |
| Not important |
6% |
25% |
| Don't know |
0% |
1% |
| 100% |
101%* |
|
| *Responses do not equal 100 percent due to rounding. |
||
"While technology is meant to make business processes easier, faster and more effective, it can be overwhelming for companies to know which tools and systems to invest in," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Most organizations take a measured approach to implementing new technologies, given the considerable costs, training and potential productivity loss involved."
"Staffing issues can also be a barrier for technology upgrades," added Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group. "Professionals who can implement new digital initiatives are often hard to find. Companies can benefit from bringing in project professionals who can manage the transition and impart their knowledge to existing staff."
About the Research
The surveys were developed by Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group, and conducted by an independent research firm. They include responses from more than 2,500 U.S. CIOs in 24 metropolitan areas and 400 U.S. advertising and marketing executives.
About Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group
Both Robert Half Technology (roberthalf.com/technology) and The Creative Group (roberthalf.com/creativegroup) are divisions of Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional staffing services. For more management and career advice, visit the Robert Half Technology blog at roberthalf.com/technology/blog and The Creative Group blog at roberthalf.com/creativegroup/blog.
SOURCE Robert Half Technology
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