This need to unclutter services is also running up against mobile and ubiquitous computing, a trend that would, on its surface, complicate IT operations. The adoption of mobile devices was a leading theme at Computerworld's Premier 100 conference here.

IT managers, in panels and in interviews, say they have little choice but to embrace and adopt the multitude of devices that are arriving.

When Kevin Summers, the CIO of Whirlpool Corp., looked at the multi-device usage of some of the company's executives, the groundswell of demand for them was apparent.

"I realized as a CIO this is something I couldn't stop," Summers said, "that I had to embrace it and make sure that we had the right technology in our organization to support it."

Whirlpool employees can use their own devices as long as they access them through client . "If you agree to use my VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) then I'm fine with it," said Summers. Employees also have to agree to company procedures, which include giving IT the ability to wipe data in the event a device is lost.