How CIOs cope with a tough economy

The economic downturn has forced some CIOs to impose a hiring freeze to delay infrastructure upgrades and discretionary projects. An InformationWeek survey of more than 600 business technology executives found that 40 percent decreased IT spending this past quarter relative to their original 2008 budgets. Yet even with hard times, some CIOs have not halted all projects, investing in technology-driven efforts to get ahead of the competition, or to protect projects directly affecting customers. Principal Financial, for example, is slowing infrastructure upgrades but spending money on collaboration technologies. Manufacturer R.R. Keller & Associates has decided to move forward with cost-saving voice over IP, but has put off a 3-D design system.

For more on IT spending choices:
- see this InformationWeek article