The IT Journey from Local to Global

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, August 18, 2010

The change from a local to a global setting means that Information Technology (IT) processes need to be re-designed, advises Håkan Nilsson, Chief Information Officer at Geodis Wilson. They need to be harmonised across physical and cultural borders, with the ability to communicate with everyone bringing real value to the organisation. The Chairman of the marcus evans Nordic CIO Summit 2010, taking place in Stockholm, Sweden, 25 - 27 October, shares his thoughts on the new interconnected marketplace, and the strategies that Chief Information Officers (CIOs) might want to consider.

What are some of the upcoming changes that CIOs need to prepare for?

Håkan Nilsson: Globalisation is making the world much more interconnected, and customer requirements are irrespective of industry, becoming more global. IT has become an enabler, delivering services on a global scale, which had not been possible before due to network and infrastructure costs.

This change from local to global means that IT processes need to be re-designed. Companies used to operate with various local systems and processes, but now there is a need for a global approach. The need to compete on a global scale is driving consolidation, with many acquisitions taking place to gain global skills and size.

To pay off this investment and achieve strategic targets, CIOs need to uniform their IT strategies. Most are finding themselves on the buy side, driving global efficiencies whilst weeding out local systems and replacing them with a global portfolio. CIOs need to put their expertise and skills forward to ensure that when the new global system is rolled out, the local strengths are not lost. Processes must be harmonised across countries and cultural boundaries, therefore the CIO needs a new set of skills to be able to interact with everyone. Technical skills are a prerequisite for the job, but the ability to communicate with different cultures and functions is what will bring real value in the future.

To view the complete release, please visit: http://www.nordic-cio.com/HakanNilsson

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