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By Pia Heikkila, 4 December 2000 17:30

NEWS The consultancy claims that ecommerce is largely seen as a strategic issue, rather than a technical one, and many companies bring in ebusiness advisers rather than listen to IT directors. Some blue chip companies even get external help when making decisions about software or hardware purchases. Prem Athwall, UK manager at Catalog, said: "The role of an IT director has undergone a dramatic shift because of the internet. Companies see IT now as an important part of the profitability plan and often introduce external people to make technology decisions rather than consult the IT director." Sarah Howarth, ebusiness research director at Aberdeen Group, pointed out that introducing an ecommerce strategy moves traditional IT issues to board level. She said: "IT directors are being bypassed because external ecommerce specialists are seen as more accessible to senior directors - they don't use jargon and they are more business orientated." But Craig Redbond, director of IT chiefs' association - The Information Group - disagreed, saying that IT directors have inside information which makes them more applicable than outside parties as advisors to the board. He said: "The IT director's role has always been to support the business rather than to make business decisions. They also know the business infrastructure inside out which no external consultant can match."