This is a very different scenario to 2006, where improving business processes currently rates as number one, followed by reducing cost.The number-two priority in 2009 will be expanding the use of information.

Rowsell-Jones said the 'next big thing' will not be a single piece of technology or point solution, it will be about leveraging information.

"We will be putting the 'i' back in CIO and the shift will be to the information piece of IT," he said.

Speaking to the more than 200 delegates at CIO magazine's Interact conference in Sydney last week, Rowsell-Jones said the volume of real-time information will increase 10-fold by 2015.

"If you feel bombarded by information now, you ain't seen nothin yet," he said.