Forrester’s Q2 2024 Tech Pulse Survey asked US IT/technology decision-makers about their role, their influence, and the external and internal challenges they face. IT departments have substantial autonomy in decision-making, but external factors such as compliance and regulatory requirements, resource allocation, and interdepartmental dependencies can affect their performance and speed of implementing new functionalities. In an increasingly AI-driven world, this autonomy can also become a double-edged sword. In this report, we underscore the need for CIOs to foster an environment that empowers IT decision-makers while ensuring alignment and collaboration across the organization.