Usha Prasad

BANGALORE, INDIA: Whether it is spending on IT or on requirements in other departments, organizations need to have a proper policy on spending/budgeting, feels Suresh A Shanmugam, National Head - Business Information Technology Solutions, Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited.

In an interview with CIOL, Shanmugam shares his views on IT implementation and IT spending.

Excerpts:

CIOL: How does organizations react to IT spending?
Suresh Shanmugam: Any company for that matter should adopt a policy when it comes to spending - be it on IT or non-IT implementations. If an X amount of money has to be spent on a particular department, it gives that X amount of responsibility to the person heading the department. The issue often becomes a subject of discussion when the question of whether the spending has been utilized in a right way or not pops up. In MMFSL, a lot of planning goes in as regards department-wise spending, and it hold true for the IT department as well.

So far, IT has been considered as an enabler at our organization. It was never seen just as a technology. Since 1997, it has been an evaluation of our business. Investment on IT was looked at in terms of growth. It was more of business-driven than looking at it as an expenditure.

CIOL: What has been your biggest challenge in your capacity of serving the organization?
SS: In MMFSL, our major focus is on the rural area. Our expertise is best put into use in these areas. Developing a software that supports the local language was a major challenge. Now having gone fully global, our challenges are very big. Whatever was localized (that was rural-centric) is now being standardized with all past values and Mahindra's corporate customer-centric culture.

CIOL: Can you cite any specific area where IT has come up as an accomplishment in your stint as a CIO?
SS: There is no specific area to mention. The freedom I had got in my 11 years of service, which had enhanced my commitment towards service by living up to the expectations, ensured that my dreams became a reality in the respective capacities I have served.

CIOL: What is the company's budget for IT spend in 2008-09?
SS: We have set aside 10 to 25 percent of the total budget for IT in 08-09. With people growing and technology changing, we have seen a growth of 15 to 20 percent coming in from the IT department as against the company's overall growth at 40 percent.

CIOL: Are you looking at Mobile Space? What are your plans in this regard?
SS: In terms of capturing the information, we have already gone mobile. We want to go to the next level by taking it to the customers.

CIOL: Going forward, what are the challenges you foresee as the IT head?
SS: When we speak of challenges, the technological challenge is less. However, monitoring and execution of plans; getting the desired result from remote locations and creating awareness about the usage across to the maximum is very important and challenging for any CIO/IT head.

CIOL: Have you taken steps to adopt Green IT technologies?
SS: Today everyone is talking of Green IT. But I foresee a lack of communication among people on the subject. Green environment should not be limited to IT/technology alone, it should be followed in every sphere.