Bigger workloads to be dumped on IT - but budgets won't increase

Almost half of IT directors fear projects won't be completed within budget

IT staff will be expected to do more for less

IT directors are expecting their department's workload to rise throughout 2010, but few expect their funding to change. As a result, almost half of them fear that IT projects will not be delivered within budget.

According to research by business and technology staffing company ReThink Recruitment, two-thirds (66 per cent) of IT directors expect workloads to increase but just 29 per cent expect budget increases.

As a result, 48 per cent of all IT directors have a major concern about delivering IT projects and support within budget. This figure represents more than double the number that had the same fear last year (22 per cent).

The recruitment firm attributes the rising workloads to projects that were shelved during the recession now being revived.

“For many IT departments this will be the second consecutive year in which budgets have not kept pace with workload demands,” said Michael Bennett, director at ReThink Recruitment.

“The pressure clearly remains on IT directors to raise the output of their departments while in many cases budgets continue to be frozen or cut.”

However, despite budgetary concerns, almost half of IT directors (46 per cent) expect their headcount to increase. In 2009, just 34 per cent harboured this expectation.

“Recession-related cost cutting measures are coming to an end and businesses are once again looking to invest. This should feed through to IT budgets before too long,” said Bennett. “From a staffing perspective the focus is already shifting from cost cutting to hiring.”

ReThink Recruitment surveyed IT directors from a broad cross-section of organisations, including several global companies with IT departments in excess of 250 staff.