Turning data into direction: how annual IT research shapes the classroom

Each year, a global network of IT leaders, from chief information officers to senior consultants, contributes to a project that answers one simple question: What's really happening in the world of technology? Using their responses, Katia Guerra, assistant professor for information technology management, and her coauthors create a report that helps explain current trends in IT.

The report, which Guerra creates in partnership with the Society for Information Management, is published annually in MIS Quarterly Executive, a publication that encourages practice-based research in information systems.

"The goal is to understand trends," Guerra explained. "What are their biggest concerns? What technologies are they investing in? What skills are they looking for?"

The 2025 SIM IT Trends Study received responses from 704 IT leaders covering everything from technology spending and implementation challenges to workforce needs, including both technical and soft skills. From there, the process becomes deeply analytical.

"We collect the data, analyze it and produce a report that helps organizations understand what's going on in the market," Guerra said. "Then we turn that into academic research."

Now in its forty-fifth year, the study has evolved alongside the industry it tracks.

A changing landscape

In 2019, the conversation centered on cloud computing and blockchain. Today, the focus has shifted dramatically. The latest report dives into how organizations are using artificial intelligence, whether to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences or support decision-making -and just as importantly, what's holding them back.

"Now, it's all about AI…Barriers like unclear understanding of the technology, cost and availability of skilled resources come up consistently," Guerra said. "Not everyone is ready to adopt new tools."

Yet some trends are constant; with security and cybersecurity remaining relevant over all previous years, those concerns will likely never go away. But Guerra's research goes far beyond technology's adoption, offering insight into a wide array of topics, including IT career paths and hiring priorities in IT.

Some of the study's standout findings: mobility matters, and business acumen is crucial to technical leadership.

"The vast majority of CIOs come from outside the organization they lead…It tells you that advancing your career often means moving between companies," Guerra added. "Additionally, about 22% of CIOs come from non-IT backgrounds. Organizations are looking for people who can translate data into business decisions, not just manage the technology."

That intersection, often referred to as IT-business alignment, has become a central theme in both the research and the classroom. For Guerra, the value of the project goes far beyond publication.

"It keeps me connected to what's actually happening," Guerra said. "When I emphasize topics like privacy, compliance regulation or IT-business alignment, it's because I know they matter. The data tells me these are real challenges organizations are facing."

This connection directly shapes what students learn, and in a field that evolves as quickly as technology, that feedback loop is critical.

The responsibility of writing

The project also feeds into another of Guerra's passions: writing. But in business research, writing comes with a responsibility to balance data with theory and insight with evidence.

Guerra noted, "Giving opinions is easy. Analyzing data requires discipline."

That distinction is central to the work, ensuring that each report not only reflects current trends but also contributes meaningful, credible insight to the field. From January planning sessions to summer data analysis and fall publication, the project is a year-round effort - one that continues to grow in relevance with each edition.

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