Foundry's Role & Influence research was previously released under the IDG Communications brand. The study outlines the tech purchases that are likely to be made, who's involved in these decisions, and the information sources they rely on.

1. Role and Influence of the
Technology Decision-Maker
2022
How the role of the IT decision-maker
continues to evolve as technology's responsibility
in business increases
1

2. Purpose and methodology
2
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
Survey goal
To provide in-depth information
about the evolving role and
influence of IT decision-makers in
today’s corporations, especially
as technology’s role in business
has increased over the past two
years; the role of technology
decision-makers in the IT
purchase process; and primary
influences and information
sources used in today’s IT
purchase process.
Total respondents 646
Collection method
Online questionnaire
Number of questions 35
Average company size 12,544 employees
IT leadership
All survey respondents are involved in the
purchase process for major IT or security
products and services
Audience base
CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld,and
Network World, site visitors, and email
invitations to audience base
Job titles
Top represented industries
72%
11%
8%
6%
3%
IT mgmt.
Exec. IT
Business mgmt.
IT pro
Other
6%
9%
9%
10%
10%
11%
11%
17%
Retail, wholesale, distribution
Education
Services (legal, consulting, real
estate)
Healthcare
Government/non-profit
Manufacturing
Financial services
High tech

3. 3
51%
10%
39%
Increase Decrease
Remain
the same
1,000+ 48%
<1,000 55%
1,000+ 14%
<1,000 6%
1,000+ 38%
<1,000 39%
Tech budgets on the
rise in 2022
Question: How do you expect your IT budget to change over the next 12 months compared to
the past 12 months?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
90%
of ITDMs say their tech budgets
will either increase or remain the
same over the next 12 months

4. 4
Mix of reasons for new tech purchases
Question: Thinking about your likely purchases over the next 6-12 months, please indicate what is prompting your organization to consider each purchase?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
28%
39%
33%
Replacement of
existing technology
Additional purchase
(not replacing existing
technology)
Upgrade of existing
technology
1,000+ 36%
<1,000 41%
1,000+ 29%
<1,000 28%
1,000+ 35%
<1,000 32%

5. 5
Average length of the buying cycle
Question: On average, what do you anticipate will be the length of the buying cycle for each purchase?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
6.2
months
Average length of the tech
purchase process
22%
12%
13%
22%
19%
11%
12 months or more
8 to less than 12 months
6 to less than 8 months
3 to less than 6 months
1 to less than 3 months
Less than 1 month

6. 6
Know the buying committee
Question: Please estimate the total number of people (including yourself), on average,
involved in influencing major enterprise technology purchases within your organization?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
20
Average number
of influencers
2019 average: 21
IT LOB Total
IoT devices 13 12 25
Cloud computing 13 11 24
Enterprise software (non SaaS) 13 11 24
Mobile apps 13 10 23
Enterprise software (Saas) 12 10 22
Data & analytics 12 10 22
Telecom 10 10 20
Web apps 10 10 20
Security 10 9 19
IT services 10 9 19
Networking 9 9 18
Servers/Storage 9 8 17
Desktop/Laptops 7 9 16
IT average 10
LOB average 10

7. 7
Top 10 information sources relied upon
Question: Which of the following information sources do you use to keep up-to-date with new technologies and to enhance the knowledge you need to be effective in your role?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
51%
45%
39%
39%
38%
37%
34%
33%
32%
29%
Technology content sites
White papers
Webcasts/Webinars
Technology vendors (via phone, email, video
conference)
Technology vendors (via vedor web site)
Peers outside your company (via phone, email, video
conference)
Online communities, discussion forums
Peers inside your company
Newsletters
Executive conferences or events (virtual)

8. 8
Average amount of content downloaded
Question: Approximately, how many pieces of information (i.e. white papers, research reports, project briefs) did you download to aid you in the purchase process?
Source: Foundry Role & Influence of the Technology Decision-Maker Survey, 2022
6
Average number of
pieces of content
downloaded during the
purchase process
5%
2%
3%
8%
8%
14%
23%
20%
18%
25 or more
20-24
15-19
10-14
7-9
5-6
3-4
1-2
None

9. 9
Continue the conversation
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