Today's I-managers--the business and technology executives charged with overseeing corporate Internet initiatives--are on the hot seat. I-managers are expected to deliver on the full value of business transformation.
How are I-managers handling the economic downturn? To get a picture of the challenges they're facing, Interactive Week surveyed Internet and interactive decision makers on the state of their Net initiatives, budgeting, return on investment (ROI), and top technical and business obstacles. Not surprisingly, the survey found that managing budgets and project deadlines were I-managers' top two management challenges.
Focused on results
The damage estimates from the dot-com implosion and the ensuing economic downturn are still being tallied, but this much is already clear: The job of delivering successful e-business initiatives has become a whole lot more demanding than it was during the Internet's heyday.
Job challenges demand vigilance
When hackers launched denial-of-service attacks on the white house's Web site, people noticed--especially executives in charge of corporate Internet initiatives.
Harmony on the horizon
As the profile of the Internet rises, corporations are apt to put one executive in charge of driving online initiatives. In many instances, the chief information officer or another technical manager is put on point. But, in other cases, companies are tapping executives from sales, marketing, customer service or other aspects of the business. Those executives often work independently of the information technology department, raising the real possibility of a turf war between the new I-manager and the old-guard IT executive.
An e-business forecast
The customer is king, or at least he will be if the near future plays out the way I-managers expect.
I-Manager profiles
Noah Garden, Jeff Marshall and Robert DeRodes talk to Interactive Week about the issues and challenges facing I-Managers.
I-Manager stats
Survey statistics including Top 10 management and technical challenges, profile of and I-Manager.
