Gartner’s (News - Alert) latest survey analyzed enterprise architecture (EA), and its findings show approximately 50 percent of EA practitioners have a direct impact on enterprise IT budget decisions and practices.

The survey was conducted in July 2012, and categorized this 50 percent as having a “great deal of influence” over IT budget allocation, with many even describing themselves as the “final decision maker” for their companies.

“68 percent of organizations surveyed stated that they are focusing their EA program on aligning businesses and IT strategies, delivering strategic business and IT value, or enabling major business transformation,” Philip Allega, managing vice president for Gartner, commented.

Allega called the numbers “overwhelming,” adding “Gone are the days of just ‘doing EA’ with little value or impact.”

The survey was focused on North America and European businesses, with final estimates stating that EA practitioners make up $331 billion in worldwide enterprise IT spending, with significant sway over approximately $774 billion in worldwide enterprise IT spending.

“This new generation of EA practitioners offers technology and service providers (TSPs) with an opportunity as well as a threat,” said Allega.

In response to these findings, Allega suggested “Technology and service providers should develop targeted marketing to this new generation of EA practitioner as they have a significant influence on their organization buying decisions.”

Gartner’s latest study is one that should not, and likely will not, go ignored.

“Those that fail to understand the priorities, strategic focus and impact of EA practitioners will jeopardize their ability to sell into an organization,” Allega warned.

The future of IT spending is leaning increasingly toward a radical new approach to EA, and one which will utilize the influence EA can -- and does -- have on business outcome.

Some further suggestions from Gartner, based on their July 2012 survey, include supporting EA as strategic, as well as a collaborative force between business leaders and IT. TSPs need to recognize the vast influence of EA on IT spending, which has been long apparent, but now thanks to Gartner is laid out in clear, definable terms.

EA practitioners report in large part (52 percent) that they directly report to a CIO or CTO, and about 64 percent work with integration consulting services. Respondents also highlighted their direct hand in business applications, with 52 percent describing their group be “very involved.”

The full Gartner report, “EA Practitioners Have Significant Influence on $1.1 Trillion (News - Alert) in Enterprise IT Spend,” is available for review at here.

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