TOP TEN CONCERNS > Managing Budgets

Budgets are as tight as ever. In last year’s research they were CIOs’ biggest concern and this year they are still near top at second place. Since the last recession where IT budgets were pared to the bone, organisations are striving to keep a really tight control over them, even though they still need innovative IT to keep ahead of the competition. Savvy CIOs are seeing savings through standardisation of the IT infrastructure so new systems can be financed without increasing budgets.

News

School heads organisation cuts travel costs with web conferencing

Saves £54,000 on transport costs and 57 tonnes of emissions

CIO News View: Moves show telepresence’s stellar progress

Top-end videoconferencing could be tech star of the downturn

HBOS cuts 90 IT jobs in streamlining drive

Internal IT support to be "easier to access"

NHS to save £6.5m on PCs in joint trust procurement

More than 200 trusts in purchase deal

TfL dumps £100m per year Oyster contractor

Following two system failures and uncovered security flaws

Pay leaps for network analysts as demand for specialists grows

Performance and skills gained are the big factors in pay rises

ITV extends online revenue deadline

As profits fall and TV network faces increased pressure

UK sales hit the floor, but tech investment will aid Carpetright

Lord Harris is confident despite recession in UK and Ireland

Citrix likely to raise prices

Server-based computing giant could follow Oracle and SAP as weak dollar takes toll

CIO News View: Spend, spend, spend even into a downturn

Investment can be rewarded even in tough business conditions

more news»

The CIO 100

1. Ministry of Defence

It’s little wonder that, with global security high on the agenda, the UK defence budget is set to increase from £29.7 billion in 2004/05 to £33.4bn in 2007/08.

2. Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs

Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has faced a multitude of supplier and management-related IT challenges and the now famous data loss incident of last winter.

3. Royal Bank of Scotland Group

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the UK’s second largest banking group, in line with other players in the market, saw its profits rise again this year.

4. BT Group

BT’s IT function has ‘upskilled’ more than 5,000 IT professionals, so that now 3,100 are engaged in customer-facing, revenue-generating work rather than internal IT projects.

5. Department for Work & Pensions

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) IT systems may not always have been in the spotlight for all the right reasons, the department headed by Joe Harley has certainly been central to some major changes.

6. Royal Mail Group

With its market now open to competition, the Royal Mail Group still managed to cut 10 per cent from costs, while at the same time absorbing a range of new technologies and systems.

7. Lloyds TSB Group

Lloyds TSB is currently the fifth largest banking group in the UK, operating in England and Wales as Lloyds TSB; and in Scotland as Lloyds TSB Scotland.

8. HBOS

HBOS is the UK’s largest mortgage and savings provider and the number one provider of new investment products.

9. Unilever

Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever produces 400 brands in 14 categories of food, home and personal care products.

10. BP

BP is one of the largest integrated oil companies in the world, with an estimated global market share of around 3%of oil and gas production in the major global markets.

more CIO 100»

Lead article

If we are entering a recession, it’s as well to be ready

Preparing for a fight

Recent Articles

Lancashire ICT leaders measure up against outsourcing

Measure by measure, in-house can be more effective
more features»

When negotiating a software deal, information is key

With knowledge of how the business works, you can save millions.
more expert advice»

Software as a service (SaaS) is now on the menu of large companies

Having been the order of the day in small- and medium-sized businesses, software as a service (SaaS) is now on the menu of large companies
more features»

Corporate IT Forum chairman Ian Campbell plots a new course

The Corporate IT Forum is independent, practical and influential. Much like it’s chairman, Ian Campbell, who tells Sarah Aryanpur how he is plotting its course
more features»

Is outsourcing really outsourcing or distress sourcing?

UK companies are using the emergence of mixed economic news to press their outsourced service providers for lower prices - and are mortgaging their future.
more expert advice»


Latest articles by top CIO concern

People Leadership > Fiat is alive and kicking thanks in part to tech policy

A recipe for success

Resource Management > High travel prices leading to more web, video conferencing

Flying could become a thing of the past as web and video technology finally takes off

Managing Budgets > Organisational Skills to Implement SOA

Cultural issues can damage SOA plans, CIO UK explains how to avoid them

Business Alignment > Business Analysts: A key to success

Make the most of your BA’s, they could open new doors for your enterprise

Managing Change > Social networking stands to benefit businesses

It’s not just Facebook

Compliance > The second age of e-discovery

Good governance – and the law – mandate that companies invest in e-discovery solutions for tracking down messages and files in the event of a probe

Infrastructure Refresh > A balanced relationship with vendors helps

A bit of give and take would help IT vendors and their customers understand each other better, says Andy Hayler

Managing Customers > NHS Records and payroll system is rare tech success story

Unbroken record

Security > How to embrace millennial’ workers

Generation games

Board Politics > Essential reading, books every CIO should have

Breaking down the walls