Regional CEOs, CIOs discuss findings of IBM Global CEO study at annual IBM CIO Conference

Speakers at the IBM CIO Conference included; Forrester Research Vice President and Research Director Connie Moore, UBS AG's member of the Group Managing Board Rolf Olmesdahl, IBM Partner and Vice President, Global Leader of the Institute for Business Value (IBV) Peter Korsten and senior executive teams from IBM's EMEA and worldwide operations.

The points that were highlighted at the conference were on best practices, case studies and innovations that outline a truly strategic forward path for business processes and requirements in the rapidly evolving global markets.

Rolf Olmesdahl, member of the Group Managing Board, United Bank of Switzerland, said, "A conference like this is a necessity for CEO's and CIO's to share their opinions and visions for global and regional ICT challenges and it could not have come at a more critical time. The role of IT as a business enabler has become evermore crucial and the need to react to change quickly and as such evolve and adapt to the marketplace is absolutely critical in the current climate."

Connie Moore, from Forrester Research Inc, stated, "My current research has focused on dynamic business applications that are designed for people, built for change and support the intersection of Information Workplace, Web 2.0 and the changing workforce. The most pertinent message to convey to enterprises is as companies are expanding into global markets at such a phenomenal rate, technology enablers such as web 2.0 tools and Business Process Management are essential for integration to enable the enterprise to survive into the future."

Presented and discussed at the conference was the IBM Global CEO study, titled 'The Enterprise of the Future'. It resulted from face-to-face interviews with 1,130 CEOs across 40 nations in 32 industries, the study was designed to capture insights on how the challenges CEOs face today will impact the future of business.

Alongside this, a variety of topics including change, innovation and the role of technology as a business enabler were tackled by industry leaders from Banking and Healthcare to Telecommunications, Public Sector and Chemicals & Petroleum through the discussion sessions, presentations and research findings delivered to influential executives from across the region. The overall outcome though was undisputable; the need for businesses to plan for rapid changes in the marketplace.

Peter Korsten, Partner and Vice President, Global Leader of the IBM Institute of Business Value (IBV), said:

"In the fast paced global markets of today, it is critical to be able to adapt and to do it quickly; it is a fact that businesses absolutely must be prepared for. In order for enterprises to cope with these uncertain times they must be 'hungry for change' and leverage talents from partners around the world or 'globally integrate' themselves. Over and above that, the true outperformers will be 'innovative beyond customer imagination'."

IBMs CIO conference is held on an annual basis and addresses the key issues that are affecting businesses not only on a regional basis but globally. The event gives a platform not only for the speakers to convey essential advice, information and insight but for the companies on the front line to bring to the fore and discuss the issues that are important to them.

"As external factors such as financial resources, increased mobility and global changes in the market continue to affect enterprises, there is a need for dialogue to be opened and begin the education process." said Takreem El Tohamy, General Manager IBM Middle East and North Africa. "The CIO conference gives us a great opportunity to learn from regional businesses about how they are being affected by changes in the marketplace as well as to enable them to innovate so they can meet their rapidly changing businesses requirements."