Tablet Computing: CIOs vs Users

1© 2011 Connection Research www.connectionresearch.com.au +61 2 9467 9800

© 2011 Connection Research www.connectionresearch.com.au +61 2 9467 9800

Tablet Computing: CIOs vs UsersAn uneasy relationshipCIO Survey Analysis June 2011

The Critical Issue – Is Tablet Computing an Opportunity or Threat to your IT Department?

The tablet computer market has seen rapid growth in the last year or two, led by Apple’s

iPad. These consumer devices are typically more portable and user friendly than conventional

laptops, so they end up being taken into the office.

Using tablet computers at work may be a growing trend, but how much of a concern is it for IT

departments and how far will they go in accommodating tablets? This Research Note, one in a

continuing series conducted by Connection Research on regular quarterly surveys, looks at the

views of CIOs and IT managers.

The View from Corporate IT

Almost half of CIOs believe tablet computers are an important technology, although the

majority think they are overhyped, whether important or not. Responses indicate that tablets

are particularly important in the public and health/education/welfare sectors, but still seen as

over-hyped.

Hype-o-meter

7.3

12.2 5.9

18.8 33.0

18.1 23.5

27.3 29.2

37.6 33.2

48.5

8.4 9.4

11.8 14.2

23.4 30.2

22.4 28.8

21.6

17.3 17.2

30.9 34.3

17.1 14.4

12.2 17.1

12.3

55.4 36.0 34.3

25.5 24.9 23.8

15.6 15.1 14.2

Cloud computing

National Broadband Network

Social Networking

TABLET COMPUTING

Green IT

Software as a Service (SaaS)

VoIP

Unified Communications

Wireless Broadband

Underhyped – and rightly so Underhyped – more important than we think Don’t know, no opinion Overhyped – for no reason. It isn’t important Overhyped – but, yes, it’s important


CIO Survey Analysis 2011 Getting users in touch with corporate data

Tablets are a factor in accommodating worker mobility, as more and more employees work from

home or on the move. Strategies and technologies to support this mobile workforce are the

third most relevant technology for IT departments, after virtualisation and integrated enterprise-

wide information access.

But while mobility may be highly relevant to corporate IT, responses from CIOs show that

worker demands for mobility are relatively low on a range of challenges currently facing

IT departments. Two thirds see workers wanting to be mobile as not important or a minor

challenge. There are a lot more pressing issues for the CIO to address first.

Relevance/Interest of IT strategies/technologies

4.9 6.5

11.8 3.8

15.1 4.8

13.5 6.5

18.9 15.7

20.4 13.4

14.0 16.7

25.8 18.3

16.8 23.8

20.4 32.3

17.8 25.4

27.4 25.3

20.5

28.0

36.0

44.9

30.8

35.5

40.3

32.8

37.8

28.5

40.0

35.5

48.6

42.5

33.9

31.4

27.6

24.2

26.9

22.0

16.8

17.7

15.7

9.1

19.5

14.0

10.2

3.8

7.0

6.5

Virtualisation

Integrated enterprise-wide information access

MOBILE WORKING SOLUTIONS

Security enhancements

Cloud Computing

Unified communications for the enterprise

Adoption of IT governance frameworks

New business applications based on Web 2.0 technologies

Increased use of third-party IT service suppliers

Application of SOA model

Localised software or service support

Green IT and energy-saving initiatives

Not On Agenda Maybe in Future Some Interest High Interest Top Interest

Significance of IT Challenges

4.8 6.5

11.8 8.1

7.5 4.3

5.3 12.8

3.7 7.0

11.2 17.6

16.6 22.6

18.7 34.4

22.0

36.6 47.6 50.5

49.7 42.0

52.9 50.5

46.5 48.7

46.0 48.4

55.1 33.3

50.5

46.2 37.8

39.9 34.8

35.1 31.0

36.6 27.8

28.3 25.1

17.2 18.2

17.7 17.7

9.1 9.7 6.9

9.6 7.4

11.2

9.6

7.5 5.4

Changing business requirements Protecting / securing the network Optimising and controlling costs

Improving service responsiveness Decreasing IT budgets

Business continuity Insufficient IT skills / training

Developing / delivering applications WORKERS WANTING TO BE MOBILE Data sovereignty / ownership of data

Outdated infrastructure Meeting regulatory compliance

Reduced IT headcount Web services

Never think about it Not Important Minor Challenge Major Challenge Top Challenge



Implementation and Budgets

Compared with the implementation of other end user technologies, tablet PCs show a very

low level of maturity. Less than 22% of CIOs have gone beyond the piloting stage with tablets,

whereas 60% reported smartphone implementation well under way or completed. The services

sector stood out, though, with almost two thirds reporting tablet implementation well under

way or already there.

Not only is the implementation of tablets low, but so is the planned investment. Almost 45% of

CIOs expected no more than minor investment in the next 12 months and most of the rest just

‘some’ financing. The biggest outlay is expected in the health/education/welfare and services

sectors. Healthcare has been reported as an early adopter of tablets because of their ease of

use and long battery life. One company in the sector commented that tablets were nothing new,

they had been using Windows tablets for five years.

End User Access and Applications Maturity

End User Access and Applications Investment

8.5

8.5

15.4

18.9

22.6

34.6

9.8

11.0

8.6

9.1

32.9

20.7

9.9

88.4

86.0

87.7

86.6

31.7

39.6

11.7

Email and messaging

End user productivity applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet)

Desktop PCs

Laptop PCs / Notebooks

End user collaboration / workflow (e.g. Microsoft Sharepoint)

Smart Phones

TABLET PCs

Haven’t considered Planning implementation Pilot or ad hoc implementation Well underway Mature implementation

10.4

10.4

27.0

29.3

38.4

39.6

55.5

59.8

36.0

17.2

35.4

36.6

39.6

25.6

23.2

42.1

46.6

18.9

15.9

12.8

10.4

9.1

9.1

6.7

6.1

4.9

5.5

4.9

4.3

End user collaboration / workflow (e.g. Microsoft Sharepoint)

Desktop PCs


End user productivity applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet)

Email and messaging

Smart Phones

TABLET PCs

None Minor - maintenance only Some investment Major investment One of our biggest areas



The above chart shows levels of implementation and planned investment for a range of end

user technologies. As a fairly recent phenomenon, it’s no surprise that tablets have a low level

of implementation in corporate IT, but planned investment is also limited. Tablets are a long way

from being seen as important as laptop and desktop PCs, or even smartphones.

The Business Impact

Users are increasingly expecting employers to allow them to use their own devices at work and

to connect to the corporate network. Tablets are the latest addition to these mobile devices

and have some potential advantages in convenience and ease of use. While mobile solutions

as a whole are important to CIOs, tablet computers remain low on the radar and are not as

significant as the hype suggests. Implementing tablets in the workplace is a challenge and

requires making careful choices about devices, functionality, communications and security.

But the survey suggests that it is not yet an IT priority, although some industries will adopt the

technology earlier than others.

IT departments have the time to plan device management and policies, implement monitoring

tools and ensure tablet-specific enterprise software is available. With the enterprise software

market moving to accommodate tablets, there may be benefits in not moving too quickly to

respond to user demands.

Author: Pete Foster

All rights reserved. The content of this report represents our interpretation and analysis of information gathered from

various sources, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness. Reproduction or disclosure in whole or in part

to other parties, by any means whatsoever, shall be made only upon the written and express consent of Connection

Research Services Pty Ltd.

Implementation vs Investment for End User Technologies

Low Investment

High Investment

High Implementation

Low Implementation

End user productivity appsDesktop PCs

Smartphones


Tablet PCs

Email and messaging

End user collaboration / workflow

Research conducted by Connection Research is a market analyst group that specialises in the

intersection of ICT and sustainable technologies. www.connectionresearch.com.au

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Tablet Computing: CIOs vs Users