Worldwide Enterprise IT Spending to Reach $2.5 Trillion in 2011

Worldwide enterprise IT spending is forecast to reach $2.5 trillion in 2011, a 3.1 percent increase from 2010 spending of $2.4 trillion, according to Gartner, Inc. 2010 enterprise IT spending is on track to total $2.4 trillion, a 2.4 percent increase from 2009. Over the next five years, enterprise IT spending will represent a period of timid and at times lackluster growth with spending totaling $2.8 trillion in 2014.

In addition, Gartner discussed four broad trends that will support change in IT, and in the economy, the next 10 years.

1. Cloud

2. Business impact of social computing

3. Context Aware Computing

4. Pattern Based Strategy

Cloud computing is a style of computing where scalable and elastic IT-related capabilities are provided “as a service” to external customers using Internet technologies. It constitutes the basis of a discontinuity that amounts to a new opportunity to shape the relationship between those who use IT services and those who sell them.

The second major trend is the business impact of social computing. Not simply more platforms such as Facebook or Twitter, the real impact will come as the underlying ethos, culture and attitudes which shape social computing and have driven growth to date, pervade the enterprise and blur the boundaries between personal and professional activities.

The third major trend impacting IT leaders is Context Aware Computing. The proliferation and availability of wireless technologies – coupled with an explosion of super intelligent devices – notebooks, tablets and smartphones -- in the hands of consumers– linked to cost effective compute and communication capabilities in all physical products – has created a new Internet

The last trend is Pattern-Based Strategy. A Pattern-Based Strategy provides a framework to proactively seek patterns from traditional and non-traditional sources, model their impact, and adapt according to the needs of the pattern.

This builds on pattern-based technologies such as social network analysis, context aware technologies and predictive analytic tools. It will allow IT leaders to seek-out patterns amidst the burgeoning information sources and model future possibilities.

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