Survey Reveals State of Interdepartmental Collaboration in Large Corporations

Survey on Interdepartmental Collaboration in Large Corporations

Cybozu Inc., based in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, has recently conducted an extensive survey involving 560 large companies with over 1,000 employees, focusing on the collaboration between IT departments and business units. This report summarizes key findings that shed light on the current landscape of interdepartmental collaboration, challenges faced, and the role of executive support in enhancing cooperative efforts.

Summary of Findings

1. High Importance on Interdepartmental Collaboration
A staggering 85% of surveyed companies emphasize the importance of interdepartmental collaboration, with 26% stating it is deemed highly important, and 59% somewhat important. This indicates a strong recognition of collaboration as a priority within organizational structures.

2. Executive Interest vs. Actual Support
While 90% of respondents report that executives show interest in interdepartmental collaboration, only about half, precisely 51%, affirm that executives actively support such initiatives. The gap between interest and tangible support highlights an area requiring attention for further development.

3. Focus on Security Enhancement
Among initiatives taken towards improving interdepartmental collaboration, 50% of companies noted 'supporting security enhancements' as a primary focus. However, efforts in 'data utilization' remain a critical challenge, with only 34% reporting progress.

4. Recognition of Data Utilization Needs
When asked to identify necessary actions that are currently unaddressed, 15% of participants pointed to 'interdepartmental data utilization' as their foremost concern, indicating a significant need for enhanced data integration across departments.

5. Impact of Executive Support on Data Utilization
There is a pronounced link between executives’ interest and support for collaboration, and the actual implementation of data utilization initiatives. Companies where executives express both interest and support show a 44% engagement rate in data utilization, in stark contrast with the 30% for those who are interested but do not offer support.

6. Collaboration Levels Vary by Department
When examining collaboration with IT departments by specific business units, the sales department reported the highest level of effective collaboration at 78%, while the legal department lagged behind at 66%, highlighting varying degrees of cross-department functionality.

7. Challenges Derived from Human Factors
Topping the list of interdepartmental collaboration challenges is the lack of human resources, noted by 50% of respondents, followed by 44% reporting disparities in IT literacy among staff.

8. The Role of CIOs and CTOs
Interestingly, organizations with CIOs or CTOs appear to experience lower pressure from these human-related challenges. Data indicates that those companies report a 10% lower incidence of IT literacy gaps and resource shortages among respondents compared to those without such positions.

Conclusion

The survey highlights significant insights into the state of interdepartmental collaboration within large corporations, particularly focusing on IT departments. By addressing the gaps between executive interest and support, corporations may better leverage their IT capabilities and improve overall collaboration efforts. To access the full report and additional insights, please visit Cybozu's owned media site, IT Foresight at IT Foresight.

This research utilized a comprehensive internet survey conducted by Cybozu in collaboration with Intage between July 4 and July 7, 2025, targeting managerial staff within IT departments across large firms excluding the software and telecommunications industries.