What's Your Information Agenda?
Tuesday's General Session was hosted by Robert LeBlanc, IBM General Manager of Software Sales and featured Tom Davenport - leading author, professor, and Information Management consultant.
LeBlanc opened the session with an overview of the information agenda, highlighting IBM's recent Global CEO Study, where IBM interviewed over 1,100 CEOs to get their take on key market trends and what matters to them. He further elaborated on the fundamental shift in clients' thinking, where bringing information to the forefront of their business decisions is more important than ever. "The world today is smaller, flatter; and accelerating change requires even more agility and intelligent decision making than ever before. Growth is at the top of their agenda. The majority of CEOs plan extensive change and innovation initiatives to keep pace and gain competitive advantage It's what keeps CEOs and business executives up at night - the challenge of making great business decisions and having access to the right information to make those decisions. This is where IT and business meet to deliver value, " according to LeBlanc.
Following LeBlanc was Tom Davenport who revealed research results from his client study Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance. "Many organizations still take a vague approach to decision-making, even in light of unprecedented access to information. "IBM has invested in and acquired the capabilities to encompass all end to end needs for every aspect of the decisioning process," said Tom Davenport.
Following the review of his study, Davenport led a panel discussion with two IBM customers who participated in the study - JM Family and Irish Life & Permanent. The panelists spoke about the importance of information as a strategic asset, along with the information management portfolio and the techniques they use within their specific decision models. "Our strategy is about cost-effective growth, leveraging out underlying information infrastructure to enable the automation of end to end processes such as "Paid in Full," said Larry Williams of JM Family. In addition, Noel Gary of Irish Life & Permanent said, "This is an example of where IT gets ahead of the business. It enables us to provide information needed for the business critical decisions we are aware of and those we have not anticipated."
IOD 2008 - A "Green" Conference
A few highlights:
- Fourteen 'GREEN' sessions on using IOD to tackle information-related energy -challenges
- GREEN business partner program launched!
- Eco-friendly Exhibitors
- Recycle bins throughout conference
- e-literature kiosks
- Recycling badge holders & more!
Tuesday's Evening Entertainment
Village People and Earth, Wind and Fire rocked the house at this Halloween-themed pool-side party and concert.
Top Analyst Quotes from Tuesday
"IBM is focusing its Information Agenda portfolio on solutions for a broad variety of problems, from businesses who need to mine their information assets to governments who must monitor, measure and manage the quality of air and water. The technology is all there, but the focus on problems and solutions makes it more accessible and useful."
- Amy Wohl of Wohl Associates
"The healthcare projects at IBM Research's Advanced Technology Demos showed that IoD and the Information Agenda are not just marketing ploys, but provide the foundation for next-generation solutions that will improve and save people's lives."
- Charles King of Pund-IT
View Tuesday's Press Release: