User insult? In the name of the vendor, the analyst and the CIO

That, at least, is the gospel according to Martin Butler, one of the UK's leading industry analysts.

He reckons IT directors fail to do proper return on investment analyses of their IT expenditure because they don't want to upset anyone - and in particular anyone who might want to give them a job in the future.

Fair comment - or insulting comment?

This particular pronouncement definitely falls into the latter category. Some of the content of Butler's speech - more of which can be found on silicon.com later today (Monday) - makes a lot of sense: some users do play safe by following their competitors, thereby giving up potential competitive advantage.

After all, one of the most famous sayings in IT folklore is: 'No one got fired for buying IBM.'

But to lay the blame for this solely at the door of the IT director is wholly unfair. If you think about it, that IBM quotation says it all. If someone did get fired for not buying IBM (or, in new money, Microsoft), it would be the CEO doing the firing.

Most organisations have a culture of blame in which IT departments too often carry the can. They fear reprisals for taking risks that don't come off. They work with a distinct lack of support from those around them, and especially those in the upper echelons who don't understand the first thing about technology. These bosses are only happy if their company is running software made by someone they've heard of.

It goes to show that, in this day and age, IT directors need all the support they can get. Butler's comments on this particular issue are counter-productive.

We should all be working together to champion their cause, not confirming CEOs' worst suspicions.

If this 'unholy trinity' exists, it's because IT directors usually work in environments where risk-taking is simply not on.

We must change that. Blaming the IT director for a situation beyond his or her control is hardly going to help.