MUMBAI, INDIA:

What is Hype and what is relevant among the smorgasbord of technology toys that in the recent few months have swaggered around?

That’s an interesting and apt question. Generally, as far as my experience allows me, as a CIO we usually try to keep tab on technology advancement in the environment and when vendors like IBM, HP or any others come up with new products and ideas, we have to make sure we catch up well. But focus has to be on the needs and expectations from stakeholders, business heads, functional heads and end users. Their plans for the coming year and long range goals matter as much, if not more. So I try to assess my business heads’ direction for the next three years or so. Based on that we take stock of where we are today and where we have to reach.

How are you accomplishing this intent?

Focusing on productivity, cost reduction, better process is important. Also not everything can be covered under ERP, so automating processes in areas like HR, Accounts, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing; Regulatory etc has to be seen.

Coming to the trend of lean IT, do you agree that a big portion of IT spends is actually waste?

I do not think so. Some portion might be so but not to a great extent especially in Indian circumstances. New systems and technology efforts have two benefits – cost and time savings which are crucial for our kind of environments. We are giving our employees an opportunity to make them knowledgeable, capable and efficient in decision making. If measured in mere tangibles, one might spot some wasteful bucks but we should not ignore the highly strong intangibles.

What’s the biggest dilemma for a CIO today?

Often it happens that there is pressure on a CIO to do more with less. Overall Indian organizations especially health care ones are doing well, but there is yet a tremendous pressure to reduce costs, increase productivity and improve customer services. CIO has to bring in the latest stuff, from laptops to tablets to handhelds etc. as the end users today is well informed about technology and wants the best to be available.