CEO: Existing IT operating models are difficult to adapt to the AI era
Gartner's latest report indicates that more than 70% of CEOs believe their organization's IT operating model cannot adapt to the AI era, with traditional centralized frameworks struggling to cope with rapid AI disruption, geopolitical volatility, and the proliferation of AI within enterprises. Only 24% of CIOs say their existing models can effectively adapt to business changes, leaving CIOs facing an imbalance between responsibility and control. Gartner recommends shifting to an orchestration-centric 'technology operating model' with embedded decision rights and guardrails.
Briefing Overview
- According to Gartner, released on Mondayreport, more than seven in ten (71%) CEOs believe their organization's IT operating model is not suited for the AI era, with rigid frameworks hindering rapid technology adoption.
- Leaders cite rapid AI disruption, geopolitical volatility, and the proliferation of AI across the organization as major challenges to traditional IT operating models, making it difficult for CIOs to maintain oversight despite ongoing external expectations.
- Gartner stated in the report: "The technology operating model defines how enterprise technology work is accomplished among distributed participants, coordinating IT and business capabilities to deliver value, scale AI, and maintain agility and resilience."
Deep Insights
As enterprises cope with AI adoption, decentralized technology ownership, and rising business expectations, traditional IT operating models are increasingly becoming a burden.
The analytics firm found that only 24% of CIOs say their current model effectively adapts to changing business needs. As a result, there is a growing disconnect between the technology outcomes executives expect and the structures used to deliver them.
This misalignment places additional pressure on CIOs, who must balance timely decision-making, managing cybersecurity risks, and maintaining competitiveness,the Experis reportpoints out. Nearly half of surveyed CIOs cite keeping pace with rapid change as one of the biggest obstacles.
Historically, IT operating models have been designed around centralized control, predictable delivery cycles, and clear ownership within the IT department. However, AI initiatives, citizen development projects, and business-led technology investments have dispersed technology decision-making across the organization.
Despite having diminishing oversight over how technology is built and deployed across the business, CIOs remain accountable for risk, resilience, and value creation.
To address this situation, Gartner advocates that CIOs move away from traditional command-and-control approaches toward what it calls an orchestration-centric "technology operating model." This model does not treat technology as the responsibility of a single department but instead distributes ownership among IT teams, business leaders, external partners, and AI-driven systems.
The firm's research also highlights significant changes in sourcing and workforce strategies.
Nearly nine in ten (about 89%) IT managers expect AI to play a greater role in technology delivery, while 71% expect increased use of shared services. Gartner predicts that enterprises will increasingly replace external labor with AI-enabled internal teams, shifting resources from routine operational work to higher-value initiatives.
In terms of governance, Gartner recommends embedding decision rights, accountability, and guardrails directly into operational processes, rather than relying on traditional centralized review structures.