Getting to grips with IT's return on investment has been a long-running challenge for many CFOs, causing an ever-widening gap between finance and IT. What does this mean today? How are companies re-evaluating their IT investments, and how is technology helping or hindering them to position themselves for the eventual upturn?

During this webcast, Nick Bray, CFO of Micro Focus, and Sam Knox, vice president and research director of CFO Research Services, will present findings analysing the views of global finance executives on their companies' IT investment strategies during the downturn and beyond.

The research will first look at CFOs' current attitudes to IT. Where do they see IT strategy sitting within an overall vision for their companies? How are they aiming to balance a need to cut costs with the need to keep their companies running, or even investing in innovation for the upturn?

Secondly, which IT investment activities remain viable? Which types of projects are seen as essential and which can CFOs afford to put on the back burner until the economic outlook picks up?

Thirdly, how is the value of these projects measured? As companies cut budgets for any expenditure that can't show a clear contribution to the bottom line, what do finance chiefs need to see from their technology counterparts when assessing the value of a new IT project?

Those who attend this webcast will receive a copy of the research report and will be able to benchmark their thinking with that of nearly 200 finance chiefs from around the world. Attendees of this webcast will also be able to identify new trends and best practices, and review IT strategies for their businesses with fresh thinking.