Only half of organizations' leadership digitally literate, ISACA research indicates

Only half (53 percent) of surveyed business technology professionals believe their organization's leadership is digitally literate, according to ISACA's new Digital Transformation Barometer research. The other 47 percent either don't think their business leaders have a solid understanding of technology and its impacts, or are unsure.
In addition, the global research study tempers the hype surrounding some emerging technologies, as respondents reality checked which technologies will be rapidly adopted, cautiously tested or parked for future consideration in the digital transformation crusade. ISACA's Digital Transformation Barometer looks at the impact of digitally literate leaders and the hype vs. reality of emerging technologies.
The findings were released on November 15 and paint a concerning portrait for the progress to date, and future of digital transformation across the globe. The Digital Transformation Barometer data delves into digital transformation and digital literacy within leadership, as well as emerging and disruptive technologies within several industries. The full research report and additional resources can be found here.
'With this research, ISACA's global membership provides a digital transformation reality check that assesses actual technology adoption plans, levels of sentiment of support and concern, and monetary commitments to deploy emerging technology by geography and industry,' said ISACA CEO Matt Loeb, CGEIT, CAE. 'The resounding message from our research is clear: senior leadership needs to invest in increasing its digital fluency. Organizations with digitally fluent leadership are more clearly recognizing the benefits and risks of emerging technologies.'
DIGITAL LITERACY AND RECEPTIVENESS TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AMONG LEADERSHIP
A concerning 47 percent aren't confident that their leaders are digitally literate, the data indicates. With nearly a quarter of these same leaders noted as needing a stronger understanding of technology's benefits and risks, digital literacy of global organizations' leadership across the industry and geographical spectrum is in question.
Despite the sense of urgency to embrace digital transformation across the board, less than a quarter of organizations said they believe their senior leadership is very receptive to adopting emerging technologies. Half of leadership teams are considered moderately receptive and one in five (20 percent) are not receptive.
Furthermore, challenges with digital literacy and receptivity to adopting emerging technology are not limited to the C-suite. Broader organizational challenges and cultural resistance play a role in the process of deploying certain digital transformation technologies.
PERCEPTIONS AND PLANS FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: HYPE VS REALITY
Big data analytics ranked highest in the chance of delivering transformational value to organizations (38 percent), easily besting AI/machine learning/cognitive (20 percent), public cloud (18 percent), IoT (14 percent), blockchain (7 percent), and AR/VR (2 percent). Big data analytics was also the leader in intended deployment plans for the coming year.
At this point, respondents believe AR/VR appears as more of a wishlist item rather than reality as most organizations are not deploying the technology yet.
THE IOT AND PUBLIC CLOUD ARE STILL CONSIDERED RISKY BUSINESS
Technologies such as Internet of Things lie at the heart of many companies' digital transformation, but, according to the ISACA research, many respondents still consider IoT and public cloud to be quite risky:
'Emerging technologies have to be embraced,' said Loeb. 'As the research shows, the reluctance to deploy them is linked to the need to understand and mitigate the risks of doing so. Organizations that implement a strong information and technology governance program will better understand their capabilities, which leads to more effective risk management and increased confidence in deployment of these technologies.