CIOL-Dataquest Enterprise Connect Awards, 2005

Are Indian CIOs keeping up with changing times and the growing demands of
business? Very clearly yes, if one looks at the profile and achievements of the
twelve CIOs from various organizations who were presented the coveted
CIOL-Dataquest Enterprise Connect Awards 2005, at a function in Mumbai late last
month. These CIOs are not just keeping up with change, but are also bringing
about change.

 

 

In these changing times it's crucial to know how CIOs are doing on some key
fronts. It is heartening to see that the progress report is more than
satisfactory-whether it is IT-business alignment in the organization's
business strategies, or business processes that were IT enabled, or the impact
of IT across various functional areas. More good news is that CIOs are looking
more closely at metrics to measure the impact of IT in the organization.

The Jury Dr Sridhar Mitta CEO e4e Labs Chairman Varun Jha VP, Tata Steel Panel member Sunil Kapoor CIO, Fortis Healthcare Panel member Alok Shende director, Tech Practice, Frost & Sullivan Panel member Prof S Raghunath Professor of strategy, IIM-B Panel member Shyam Malhotra editor-in-chief CyberMedia Panel member Prasanto K Roy chief editor Dataquest Group Panel member

Constituted in 2004 with the intent and purpose of recognizing excellence
among CIOs, Enterprise Connect Awards focus on finding out an organization's
IT-Business Alignment and Projects of Excellence.

At a time when questions are often raised about the present role and future
of CIOs, especially in the light of all the noise about outsourcing, the
achievements of the award winners show that the CIOs are deploying IT in
pioneering ways and are using IT in an innovative manner to improve business
efficiencies. They are implementing IT solutions within the organization and
outside so that they would benefit the external stakeholders too. The CIOs are
now more sensitive about the processes that were improved significantly by using
IT. And, most importantly, CIOs are taking pride in their work and are much more
upbeat about solutions they are coming out with to meet growing challenges.

It would not be wrong to say that that the influence wielded by the CIO, over
the internal users in the organization and the top management, is ramping up.

Latha Chandradeep

The Awards: In Recognition of...

Awards Methodology

The participants were divided into two categories-Large enterprises with a
turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore, and Mid-sized enterprises with a turnover of
under Rs 1,000 crore. The jury selected three companies from the shortlisted
contestants in both the sections-one as Champion CIO and two runners-up for
Gold and Silver Awards.

There was also an Individual Awards category, based on the company's
performance in each category mentioned above. Those scoring highest in the
individual categories in Section 2 were short-listed to participate in the
Individual Awards category comprising Pioneer CIO, Innovator CIO, Advocate CIO,
Extended Manager CIO and Process CIO.

This gave a chance to the shortlisted companies that didn't win any of the
first three awards, to participate in the individual category. No single company
was conferred two awards.

However, while the Jury was presented with the final shortlist of candidates
in various categories, the scores of the shortlisted companies were not revealed
to them. The Jury individually assigned scores, which were then tallied, to
arrive at the winners.

Who's Who

A Pioneer Adopts cutting edge/emerging technologies ahead of time

An Innovator Innovates on an existing technology/application for use
originally not intended for

An Advocate Contributes towards acceptance of IT within the
organization-top management and end users

An Extended Manager Creates value for the business by connecting
strategic external stakeholders

A Process CIO Positively impacts business processes through successful
use of IT, or by re-inventing processes