Can chief information officers (CIOs) manage the difficult task of keeping the lights on and driving business innovation at the same time? That is the question raised by Capgemini’s latest global CIO survey. It paints a pretty depressing picture of most organisations, where despite the recognition that IT is a vital element in driving innovation, few IT chiefs actually believe they are achieving this.

So what can be done to change this? IT directors who rank as “top innovators” in Capgemini’s opinion come from organisations in which the CIO reports directly to the chief executive or chief operating officer, rather than to the chief finance officer, as is more common. These firms also have business leaders who understand technology’s value to the organisation and help forge effective relationships between business and IT.

The problem in many organisations is that although business leaders often talk about innovation, it is viewed as an intangible asset. Few see it as a set of processes that can be “trained, supported and measured”, as Forrester Research suggests. But CIOs need to be proactive and demonstrate they can add value through IT innovation. In doing so they could elevate themselves to the role of business, rather than technology, leader.