Insurance sector IT managers feel that outsourcing is the route to an improved IT strategy and personal growth, according to the latest Pressure Point Index (PPI III).
The survey revealed that 72% of the sector's IT managers would like to outsource selected operational IT functions to a managed service company.
The findings reflect a shift in the industry - last year's PPI II found that 36% of insurance sector IT managers felt outsourcing was a threat to their jobs.
41% of insurance sector IT managers would like to outsource their user support, 34% infrastructure maintenance, and 14% staff management, the study claimed.
Synstar director of strategy Russell Flower said: "The change in insurance sector IT managers' attitudes reflects an increasing maturity over the way that European companies are beginning to utilise their own IT resources - strategically rather than operationally. Synstar views this as a major breakthrough."
The study claimed that the newfound relationships that IT managers enjoy at board-level might be the reason for this change of approach.
Indeed, 58% say that they now proactively approach the board with strategic advice and 33% say that the board approaches them directly for consultation. 36% discuss IT issues with the board on a weekly basis, 24% monthly and 21% quarterly.
