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CIO Concerns and Resolutions for the New Year

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PCQ Bureau
New Update

It's that time of year when we analyze events from the past year and work on

resolutions for new year. You not only get to learn from mistakes committed in

the past but also clues on the sort of changes you would like to see in the

coming year. We reached out to some of the key IT decision makers across India

and gauged their concerns and resolutions for the coming year. We also tried to

find out issues that gave them the maximum sleepless nights during 2007. Read on

to find out directly from the horse's mouth.

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Sleepless nights! How many?



We asked CIOs to recall issues that were the cause of many a sleepless night

in 2007. Most of them averred that with businesses growing at such a fast pace,

they need to keep coming up with strategies to keep up with the competition. So,

they face the daunting task of aligning IT with business needs. In fact, this

was the topmost concern amongst CIOs in 2007. Enterprises have made huge

investments in IT during the last few years and are now looking at reaping

rewards for these investments. These days, whenever they start a new project,

the first thing a CIO needs to justify is how the project will add to the value

to the enterprise. IT is no longer considered a need or service; it's the means

of staying ahead and growing at a fasterpace.

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However, the solution to this problem is quite simple and requires a CIO to

clearly understand the challenges before a company and play an important role in

making business decisions. This is why a CIO is also reffered as a 'Chief

Insight Officer' sometimes.

The next big challenge that most enterprises face is the expansion of IT

infrastructure. With the growth of organizations, expansion of IT infrastructure

becomes a priority. And as globalization is the name of the game, organizations

are opening up more and more branch offices that need to be connected to the

head office through WAN Links. Some of the respondents quoted last mile support

and availability of resources in remote areas as points of concern. Similarly,

maintaining 100% uptime was another problem faced by enterprises. Yet another

interesting one was related to CIOs struggling to expand their IT infrastructure

due to tight budgets. This gives a fair amount of idea of how hard pressed CIOs

are to spend their money on the right technologies, despite the fact that IT

budgets of enterprises are increasing. To cope with this challenge, enterprises

are doing some serious cost control, another issue that gave sleepless nights to

IT decision makers.

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No matter what kind of IT solution you are implementing, you can never ignore

security. A major chunk of CIOs said that network security has always been a

major hassle. Even though they've taken adequate steps to ensure security for

their enterprises, they still can't claim it to be fool proof. Which is a bit

strange as enterprises have made significant investments in network security

last year, just to ensure their businesses don't suffer any breakdowns due to

any attacks or data thefts.

Time frame of some IT projects can be very long, so it becomes extremely

important for enterprises to hire the right staff and retain them. If a key

employee leaves during the implementation of a major project, it can be a real

setback to the company, for a new employee would require time to understand a

company's business, project and work done in the project. This might, sometimes,

result in extension of deadlines and the technology becoming obsolete. Also over

time, a company's requirements might change. CIOs are also unhappy with the

poaching of employees groomed by them. Other issues giving sleepless nights to

CIOs are Vendor Management, Compliance, and Server Consolidation.

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What's the score in project completion?



Ask any IT topshot, there is nothing more satisfying than finishing an IT

project, no matter what kind of project it is or how long it takes. In our

survey, we asked the CIOs one thing that they completed in 2007 which gave them

maximum satisfaction. Other than project completion, to our surprise many said

that getting their budgets approved for IT project and getting additional funds

was most satisfying. As these lead to faster completion of projects or

improvement in IT infrastructure. And all this ultimately leads to customer

satisfaction which always is the prime goal of any organization.

Plans and resolutions 2008



So what's the priority of key decision makers across the country for 2008?

Any guesses? Did you say the same thing that was last year? Well believe it or

not, it's true. In our survey when asked about vision of CIOs for 2008, most of

them said 'Aligning IT with business needs,' the same thing that gave them

sleepless night in 2007. While aligning IT with business goals, CIOs are very

much concerned to ensure that businesses run smoothly and life of everyone gets

better at work.

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Interestingly CIOs are least worried about cost control in the coming year

which was one of the main issues which caused sleepless nights to them.

Implementing new technologies to improve their organization's competiveness is

what CIOs are planning to do in the coming year. As you would expect to support

fast growth of businesses, IT infrastructure expansion also remains in priority

list of CIOs. In the coming year CIOs are looking to improve the current

processes and policies and be more realistic about their targets. In terms of

investments, CIOs are keen on security and DR and BCP. CIOs are also planning on

significant investments in Virtualization, Unified communication, and Web

services. Between all this Green IT also happens to be in back of their minds.

CIOs are also serious about retaining their current staff for the coming year

and taking steps to ensure that they give their team best possible carrier

opportunities.

User resolutions



Between all these business concerns CIOs haven't forgotten their users and

they do care about their smiles. According to CIOs in the coming year, they plan

to listen to their users more attentively and get frequent feedbacks from them.

As we all know user feedback is something no one can neglect and it's been said

a lot of times that it's the users who give most effective ideas. CIOs also plan

to improve support for their users and provide them with training.

IT Team resolutions



More leaders and better team spirit in their IT teams, that's what most CIOs

are looking for in the coming year. Providing job satisfaction (one of the

hardest things to do) and motivating their IT teams are also in priority list of

CIOs. Plus CIOs are also looking for ways to ensure that they retain their

current IT teams and provide regular trainings to ensure that their team

upgrades its skills with time.

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Top management resolutions



Other than Aligning IT with business needs, CIOs also want to reduce the

communication gap between them and top management. CIOs are planning to stay

cost conscious for the coming year and show good returns to top management.

Vendor resolutions



Good news for vendors: CIOs are looking toward a healthy relationship with

their vendors. They are also willing to create a transparent system between

themselves and vendors to reduce the conflicts. Giving vendors clear picture

about their requirements and ensuring quality as well as timely delivery is also

among resolutions. Furthermore, CIOs are making attempts to understand

technology roadmaps and planning according to them to ensure upgrading is not an

issue at later stages.

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Conclusion



Irrespective of how was the year 2007, CIOs are upbeat about the coming year

and planning to ensure profits soar in coming year. Investments in IT will

continue to grow and CIOs are also positive about the new technologies.

We thank all the key IT decision makers across the country for participating

in our survey and wish them all the best for new year. May all their resolutions

come true. Read on to find out directly from some of the topshots about their

resolutions.

Jyoti Bandopadhyay



VP-IT


Torrent Power

For my IT team, I resolve to



Lead from the front.

For my users, I resolve to



Provide a one stop solution for any IT enabled business process, under the

environment of anytime anywhere computing and information capture at source

only.

For the top management, I resolve to



Create an environment of one stop solution options for key business issues.

For my vendors, I resolve to



Forge healthy relationships, as vendors are partners to deliver effective IT

enabled business solutions for my customers (users).

Vivek Dharia



CIO




KNP Securities

For my IT team, I resolve to



Narrow the gap of communication amongst the staff & other stakeholders.

For my users, I resolve to



Provide quick & efficient feedback.

For the top management, I resolve to



Provide result oriented technology, keeping business needs in mind.

For my vendors, I resolve to



Have a good relationship.

An IT topshot from an advertising company

For my IT team, I resolve to



Provide direction and guidance to change their orientation from being mere

IT service personnel to Business Technologists.

For my users, I resolve to



Continue to provide efficient and timely response to needs.

For the top management, I resolve to



Align IT with business needs in a cost-effective manner.

For my vendors, I resolve to



Make them deliver value for money and provide solutions on time.

BA Systems offers integrated

connectivity solutions for complex networks, with a specific focus on the

BFSI segment.

1. What is your

company's resolution for the New Year?



Network security is still a huge issue in BFSI. Today, security is just

about sufficient, but not enough. Technology has a lot to address when it

comes to security. Even now, many bank customers are scared to use their

credit cards for online transactions. The security has to be fool proof to

encourage customers. In the coming months, our company would focus on

enhancing security systems and align those with business needs of banks.

2. What has your biggest learning been, in

terms of technology deployment in the BFSI segment?



The biggest challenges facing BFSI today are integration of products and

solutions with core banking software, granularity in QoS (Quality of

Service) and Security of the network. On security, the industry still has a

long way to create fool proof networks.

3. What is unique about creating or

deploying technology for BFSI?



The clients require a secure network and high bandwidth availability

because the time for settlement of each transaction is very less. And as

financial institutions work with System Integrators (SI) for their IT needs,

the latter would prefer solutions that will be easy to roll out and enable

remote management . The Minimal Test Deployment (MTD) from BA Systems will

make life easier for SIs, particularly when dealing with branches at the

remotest places in India.

An IT topshot from an FMCG company

For my IT team, I resolve to



Support and motivate them whenever required, for promoting/innovating new

technology and recognize them for their efforts.

For my users, I resolve to



Take feedback from their users. Make IT simple is our policy. I also resolve

to provide them regular training and update them on technologies that would

allow them to be self sufficient in their operations.

For the top management, I resolve to



To be partners with them and understand the key requirements to help both

parties to grow efficiently. Also, would provide them with the best of

technology to save the operational costs of IT.

For my vendors, I resolve to



Provide them the best of infrastructure with the limited budget available.

One of the ways is through consolidation of servers. This can be done by using

the best possible technology.

Yagnesh Parikh



ICICI Bank

For my IT team, I resolve to



Ensure to train for better and quick results.

For my users, I resolve to



Ensure giving clear requirements and explaination to team.

For the top management, I resolve to



Provide automated up-to-date MIS for their review and support for resolution

of crisis.

For my vendors, I resolve to



Give clear requirements to get quality and timely delivery.

IT Head from a top IT consultancy enterprise

For my IT team, I resolve to



Provide training to keep them abreast with best practices and latest

technology in IT Industry.

For my users, I resolve to



Provide cost effective, best-in-class infrastructure.

For the top management, I resolve to



Provide excellence in IT operations, in line with business requirements

For my vendors, I resolve to



Leverage latest technology and IT solutions offered by them to provide

best-in-class infrastructure.

1. What would be the biggest New

Year resolution for WeP? Any particular business plans for the year?



WeP would focus on strengthening its Solutions & Services Portfolio to widen
reach and increase depth per customer. WeP's products business will strive

to provide 'Tech Fantasy' to its customers in Retail & Power solutions area.

We intend to grow 10% higher than the industry in these areas for the coming

year.

2. What has been your biggest

learning from 2007?



Indian consumers need India specific solutions. Customizing to their

needs is the key to their wallets. We must understand and respect regional

flavors to succeed across the Indian geography. SMB & class B,C and D cities

are key growth drivers in the coming years.

Technology resolutions of CIOs from our survey last month



To delegate more tactical issues and focus more on long term strategies for

the business.



Sumit Puri, Senior VP-IT, ICICIprulife

Make all people work online so that paper movement can be minimized as far as

possible.



SUDESH JAIN, VP-IT, TCIL

I will try to enlighten my colleagues with my career learnings, so that they

need not re-invent the wheel.



Ramesh Janarthanam, GM-IT, Onida

I would like to define the roadmap & growth plans for my team, which would

also help my company to upgrade their IT infrastructure.



Subodh Kulkarni, Director IT, Alfa Computers Inc

To keep abreast of new technologies that can be implemented effectively.



Rohit Bajaj, IT Head, Bajaj Electricals

Imparting intense knowledge to team members.



Sanjay Mittal, Head-IT, Navin Fluorine International

I would evangelize the benefits of IT infrastructure consolidation,

virtualization, IMS, ITIL implementation and would also focus on writing

articles on best practices in the industry and future trends in IT.



An IT topshot from an IT consultancy company

Anil Chopra, Swapnil Arora and Vishnu Anand

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