The challenges of digital transformation are taking their toll on Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and straining their relations with other executives according to a survey which revealed that just 23 per cent of UK CIOs are aligned with their chief financial officer (CFO) on tech strategy.

A global survey of 555 C-level decision makers by digital transformation software Apptio and Financial Times Focus found that nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents agreed that instead of integrating their organisations, digital transformation has deepened the divide between IT and finance.

The 23 per cent of UK respondents who say the CIO and CFO share a vision for tech strategy compares to a global average of 30 per cent.

However, nearly two-thirds of global leaders (63 per cent) said that the IT function needed greater influencing skills to drive digital transformation.

More than half (56 per cent) of organisations who are carrying out digital transformation said they are adopting an agile, flexible, strategic approach that evolves based on learning from the business and customers.

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of respondents said that digital transformation helps to strengthen collaboration across C-Suite leaders when it comes to developing new products and services, but 47 per cent say digital transformation is blurring established roles and responsibilities.

Cloud migration is also proving a challenge for forms looking to meet their digital transformation goals, with just 30 per cent of leaders feeling confident in IT’s ability to govern cloud across the business.

When it comes to agile working, less than one fifth of companies (16 per cent) have a clearly defined framework to map success across the business, and UK leaders are among the most likely to adopt agile without this framework (24 per cent).

Sunny Gupta, Apptio chief executive said: “Digital is completely transforming the IT operating model, and that means CIOs and CFOs need to work collaboratively.

He added: “These business leaders need to accelerate new delivery models such as hybrid and cloud, optimise growth investments to fund innovation, and boost financial agility so that IT finances can be managed and adjusted in real-time based on the highest needs of the business.”

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