I am getting tired of hearing reports of Gartner admonishing CIOs for similar behavior and then turning around and giving legitimate reasons why the behavior they are reporting is justifiable. This piece from Mr. Heath is a classic example.

The dynamics here are clear: unless and until "the business" embraces the added value IT can bring to their enterprises and that realizing that value requires money, time and risk (just like any other investment) the same pattern will repeat. Chances are better than even that business with "vanilla" IT initiatives who complain they aren't seeing innovation are cutting IT budgets and keeping IT under the thumb of the CFO. Innovation is not likely to emanate from this traditionally risk-averse arrangement.