C Change to kick off today

BANGALORE: With organizations increasingly depending on technology, the role of a CIO is fast changing. The CIO is expected to wear different hats, from being a technologist, focusing on IT-related issues like compliance, security, efficiency and so on, he is expected to be a complete business strategist.

CIOL, with its long standing relationship with the CIOs and deep understanding of both business and technology issues that a CIO faces, has not only recognized the ever-growing value of the CIOs but is also offering them a platform to voice their opinions and concerns.

CIOL C-Change is a mega event designed to invigorate 100 of India's finest CIOs and enable them to take on bigger challenges. The focus this year is on powering them to succeed as business strategists. C-Change '05 offers these professionals a clear perspective of the fast-changing business paradigms and merging trends, and is an ideal platform for them to exchange views with some of the best minds in the business.

"After we `Superpowered the CIO' at our first C Change event, last year in Goa, we are discussing the role of a `CIO as a Business Strategist'. Hot topics, which are on priority of every CIO, are discussed with experts pitching in with an insight into the future of technology. We have ensured a good mix of academia, industry and practitioners, as our esteemed speakers, to give valuable inputs for our members. Apart from the information and content, our members have welcomed the event warmly and find it very useful," said E Abraham Mathew, President, CIOL.

The 3-day mega event will be held at the Golden Palms Hotel and Spa, Bangalore from 27^th January to 30^th January 2005. The participants can avail the facilities of one of Asia's finest spas to de-stress and rejuvenate, while they interact with the best-known names from the Indian IT industry - a combination that effectively equips them to 'Take Charge'.

The event is designed to be unique and power packed to offer in-depth information to the participants. Based on the feedback and suggestions received at the CIOL C Change 2004, the seminars have been structured to address highly relevant technology as well as management topics. The sessions have been divided into two main tracks, technology and business strategy sessions running parallely. The technology track will focus on some of the hot topics of the season ranging from web services, SOAs, Information security, utility computing and so on.

While the business track have been further divided into different sessions to be addressed by academicians and industry practitioners like Manoj Choksi, VP - Strategic Planning and IT, Asian Paints. This includes some interesting topics like 'CIO as Business Strategist' and a workshop on 'Leadership qualities for CIOs' as well as a session on 'Developing Personal Assertiveness'.

"C change in 2005 is all about CIOs Taking Charge. CIOL is bringing together the CIOs of the top 100 enterprises in India to enable sharing, learning and also mentoring in a wellness environment. Top IT vendors including APC, AMD, IBM, Seagate and Xerox will discuss technology and emerging trends. All in all C-Change 2005 will help chart the course for the CIOs in 2005," comments Anil Kumar R, Associate Vice President, CIOL.

The event will include keynotes, panel discussions and networking sessions from some of the big names in the industry such as Subrato Bagchi, COO, Mindtree Consulting, will moderate a session on 'CIO as a business strategist' and Pradeep Gupta, CMD of CyberMedia Group, will deliver his keynote on "Creating knowledge and interactive platforms'.

While Douglas Weidner, Chairman, The International Knowledge Management Institute, will address the CIOs on 'The importance of managing intellectual capital and role of IT', Professor S Raghunath, Corporate Strategy, IIMB will speak on CIO as a Business Strategist-Looking beyond technology. Apart from these, the event includes panel discussion on issues and trends in some of the hottest enterprise technologies like Web services/SOA, DR& BCP, utility computing and wireless and mobile computing.

The event sponsors include IBM, Xerox, AMD, Seagate, APC and StorageTek. For the latest updates, log on to www.www.ciol.com/cchange.