(0) Digital Transformation Leapfrogs to Top of Enterprise Agenda As Pandemic Makes Tech a Lifeline for Workers and New Offerings 2021 will be a year of experimentation and adaptation for CIOs and their technology organizations, driven by the ongoing needs of the pandemic and a dramatic increase in enterprise focus on digital transformation, according to 2021 IT Key Issues Research from The Hackett Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCKT). The full research, "2021 CIO Agenda: 10 Key Issues IT Needs to Act on Now," is available on a complimentary basis, with registration, at this link: https://www.thehackettgroup.com/2021-it-key-issues-2012/. Key findings from the research include: A Year of Experimentation and Adaptation, Guided by IT as a Strategic Partner - As a result of the pandemic, IT had to shift overnight from its historical role of being an administrator, gatekeeper and developer of technology. IT became the lifeline that kept workers productive and helped operations implement or expand digital service and product delivery. For 2021, technology organizations must improve their ability to act as a strategic partner to the business as they guide companies through a year of experimentation and adaptation, while they help the business prepare for post-pandemic environment. The focus will be on improving resiliency and enhancing stability while accelerating technology-enabled innovation. Some common IT focal points are: process automation to eliminate manual dependencies and bottlenecks; risk reduction through use of third-party ecosystem and backup sourcing; touchless customer contact points for ordering and delivery; and remote worker collaboration and creative tools (Page 5). All of these capabilities, implemented during a crisis, will be industrialized and made permanent in 2021 and beyond.