Enterprise-Wide Digital Initiatives Miss the Mark: Gartner

Fewer than half of enterprise-wide digital initiatives meet or exceed their business outcome targets, according to new research released by Gartner at its IT Symposium/Xpo in Orlando this week.

The 2025 Gartner CIO and Technology Survey was based on responses from 3,186 CIOs and technology executives in 88 countries and found that 48% of digital initiatives do not live up to expectations.

More than 80% of CIOs said they expect to increase 2025 investments in strong foundational capabilities and technologies such as cybersecurity, AI, generative AI, business intelligence and data analytics.

Gartner found that a small group of CIOs and CxOs, known as the digital Vanguard, has the highest achievement rate, with 71% of their digital initiatives meeting or exceeding targets. Digital vanguard CxOs dedicate more of their personal time and resources to focus more of their personal time on digital delivery, according to Gartner.

“This digital vanguard distinguishes themselves from the rest of CIOs and CxOs because they co-own digital delivery,” said Rad Gelders, vice president, research at Gartner. “CIOs and CxOs are equally responsible, accountable and involved in delivering the digital solutions their enterprises need. This is a radical departure from the traditional paradigm of IT delivery and business ‘project sponsorship’ that predominates in most enterprises.”

Related:The 10 Top Strategic Technology Trends for 2025: Gartner

The survey found that 43% of CIOs expect to decrease investments in legacy infrastructure and data center technologies, primarily because of migrating to cloud-based solutions. 

That compares with 33% who said they expect to increase it, which could in part be because some organizations acquired on-premise infrastructure to experiment and keep more generative AI in-house, according to Gartner.

A relatively small number (16%) of CIOs prioritize building an enterprise-wide technology workforce beyond their own IT departments during the next year.

“That will limit the enterprise’s ability to get the most from their digital investments,” stated Gartner. “It condemns them to perpetuate the low number (48%) of digital initiatives that meet or exceed their business outcome targets.”

The primary focus areas for CIO in 2025 are to manage cybersecurity and other technology risks (69%), create and execute an IT strategy (59%), and demonstrate the business value of IT (50%).