IT Industry Execs Air Frustrations Over Budgets, Travel CostsIT Industry Execs Air Frustrations Over Budgets, Travel Costs

IT industry executives find airline travel more frustrating than high gas prices, longer work hours, and even the media's coverage of Britney Spears.

That's just one finding from an IT industry straw poll at the 2007 CDW Corporation's Parnter Summit in Las Vegas this week.

More than half of 266 IT industry executives polled expect budget increases next year. Forty-three percent of respondents also think 2008 IT budgets will be higher than in 2007, and 9% think IT budgets will be much higher.

The poll found that the greatest obstacles customers face when trying to increase their IT budgets are competing priorities for resources (34%), lack of executive vision for harnessing IT resources to their advantage (25%) and a lack of senior executive understanding and support (12%).

The respondents said that most popular reason that customers purchase their product is for business benefits (83%). They include improving operational efficiency (38%), gaining or increasing a competitive advantage (16%), and supporting expansion and/or revenue growth (9%). Thirteen percent said technology leadership was the most significant factor.

"While technology leadership is still important for driving innovation, customers need IT solutions that are specifically tailored to solve their unique business challenges," Matt Troka, VP for product and partner management at CDW, said in a prepared statement. "Despite the emphasis on communicating how technology can drive profitable revenue growth and bottom-line results, many business executives do not look to IT to power their business. The IT industry needs to engage business leaders directly and more clearly articulate how technology can grow the top line, bolster earnings and define strong competitive advantages."

The industry executives also named their biggest frustration during 2007. Twenty-one percent complained about some aspect of air travel, while 15% found traffic and commuting the most frustrating thing this year, and 14% said longer work hours frustrated them most. Thirteen percent said gasoline prices were the most frustrating thing they deal with this year.

In a novelty question, CDW asked about media coverage of Britney Spears. A scant 18% said the exposure frustrated them.