Abstract:
Business strategy, operations, communication and technology have converged and resulted in increased demand for business
flexibility. Chief information officers (CIO) are particularly challenged because they operate at the intersection between
information technology and their organisations. Amidst increasing emphasis on cost-efficiency, information technology
resource investment and emergence of new technologies, stakeholders need to understand the most relevant issues within a
three- to five-year period. This study was undertaken to contribute to the body of knowledge around key information systems
issues in South Africa. Thirty-one responses were received from South African chief information officers surveyed in late
2004. The top issues were: security and control, building a responsive it infrastructure, it value management, service delivery,
and improving is strategic planning. The ranked list of issues was compared to previous studies, and further analysed by
industry and source of it services (in-house, outsource or combination). Industry and the sourcing of information services
were found to have an effect on the ranking of key issues.