Expectations are mixed, with medium-sized businesses outpacing large ones. A rise seems ahead for software installations.

The number of companies planning to invest in their ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems will drop slightly this year, according to a Forrester Research report, even as IT spending overall is expected to rise.

Despite fears caused by the European debt crisis, spending on technology products and services is set to continue growing around the world, although the pace of growth in Europe overall will be lower, Forrester Research said in a report released Tuesday.

Gartner has revised its outlook for worldwide IT spending this year, predicting the industry as a whole will see 4.6 percent growth to $3.4 trillion, up from its previous prediction of 3.3 percent growth, according to its latest figures released Thursday.

Citing improved profit margins and a stabilizing IT spending environment, IBM revised its 2009 earnings estimates upward Thursday, even as the company's revenue dropped.

It takes a long time for hospitals to see a return on IT investments, according to a report released this week, which may explain why the industry has long been seen as a laggard in technology spending.

Claiming that IT spending is not contributing to business growth, Gartner said this week that eight out of every ten dollars spent is "dead money".