How They Get There

The study found that while many organizations may require certain software titles for specific projects, few of those organizations have employees who need to use them daily, despite the fact that many newer software providers offer subscription models. “More traditional vendors are still operating on a license basis,” the study says. “This encourages ongoing waste.”

And reducing the waste doesn’t appear to be a priority for chief information officers, 1E says. “CIOs are no longer concerned with driving down costs, but have instead turned their gaze towards adding value,” the study says.

Indeed, a separate, annual study by the Society of Information Management, a professional organization of corporate IT leaders, said that reducing and controlling IT costs, a “top five” priority in 2012 and 2013, fell from that level in 2014 and 2015.