2008

As is customary, let me start by wishing all of you a very happy new year.
May all your wishes, on the home front as well as in the workplace, come true.
And may there be peace and prosperity all around.

I wish that in the year 2008, CIOs change into people who want to be masters
of IT, and not allow IT to become their masters. I hope that these CIOs as well
as present and aspiring IT managers, read more books on marketing and sales, on
philosophy and fun, and experiences of successful business and political
leaders. I pray that they are able to spend more time chatting and playing golf
with their CEOs and CXOs rather than breaking their heads over new technologies.

I desire that on January 1, 2008, CEOs and CXOs wake up with a desire to
bring a difference in their customers life, and not to only meet their targets.
I want them to understand their customers requirements and problems better, and
find solutions to them. I am pretty sure that the CEOs and CXOs, while stressing
on the need to stretch as much as possible, will also ensure that everybody in
the organization is fit and motivated enough to serve the customers. I want them
to start believing in the power of IT as a tool to deliver innovative solutions.
I wish them to have more confidence on their CIOs and take them under their
mentorship.

Ibrahim Ahmad

I pray that in 2008, vendors of hardware and software solutions will work on
making their customers happy and satisfied so that they come to them, and do not
have to be chased for selling more. I wish that they realize the value of the
partnership approach, and make sure their customers succeed. I wish they read
and imbibe on the values of commitment to quality or products and services. And
the commitment to promises made.

I hope everybody in the IT industry will spend more time on his own physical
and mental fitness, starting with 2008. Yoga, morning walks, weekend treks,
indoor games, reading, drama and theater, and music should come back into
everyones lives. I wish all of us spend more time with family and friends,
going for movies and picnics. We must share our life especially with our
children, the future of our country. There is a lot to teach them and there is a
lot to learn from them.

I believe that with every passing day, all of us are getting more and more
sucked into our daily rut in the office and at home. We are missing out on these
rich and highly refreshing experiences. These are very crucial if we want to be
innovative, caring, and energeticwhich is what the winners of 2008 will need to
have in abundance.