Gartner Says 66 Percent of Global 1000 Organizations Will Have Formal Technology Innovation Processes by 2010

Analysts Examine How Organizations Can Achieve Growth Through Emerging Technologies During Gartner Emerging Trends Symposium/ITxpo, April 6 to 10, in Las Vegas
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2008

As IT organizations struggle to help their companies achieve growth, profitability and competitiveness through technology innovation, two-thirds of Global 1000 companies will have formalized technology innovation processes by 2010, according to Gartner, Inc. Technology is becoming inextricably linked with business and management innovation. Because of the high levels of impact and spending that result from this linkage, technology innovation needs formal planning and management.

Gartner analysts discussed best practices for technology innovation at Gartner Emerging Trends Symposium/ITxpo, which is taking place here through April 10.

“Integrating emerging technologies is an important source of innovation for the business,” said Jackie Fenn, vice president and Gartner Fellow. “Innovation initiatives may emerge from ideas generated by the business or from research areas, such as the IT organization’s Emerging Technologies Group (ETG). Organizations should exploit both idea channels and map clear links between their business goals, business projects and emerging technology planning.”

Gartner said the primary imperative in managing technology innovation is to make someone accountable. The accountability most often lies in IT, but a few organizations are beginning to place the direct accountability with business units. A second-level imperative is ensuring diversity in the conversation and planning.

“Although the ETG is responsible for delivering a strategy for emerging trends and technologies, the extended team needs diversity in background, current role or responsibility, business or IT orientation and generational knowledge,” Ms. Fenn said. “The diversity of the technology planners should mirror the diversity in the organization.”

Organizations need timely innovation to meet either internal organization performance needs or to address customer or market needs. Having clear innovation processes and accountable leaders also contributes to ensuring progress and timely innovations.

“IT has multiple opportunities to contribute to business innovation. In fact, IT plays three roles: innovating the internal IT processes and services, introducing emerging trends and technologies in support of business objectives, and supporting business-led innovation initiatives through direct participation and providing innovation expertise,” said Kathy Harris, vice president and Distinguished Analyst at Gartner. “IT leaders should clarify the three roles in their organizations and ensure that they’re building the capabilities and leadership to fulfill their responsibilities in each role.”

About Gartner Symposium/ITxpo

Gartner Emerging Trends Symposium/ITxpo is Gartner’s premier event focused on the emerging trends, technologies, business models and new management thinking poised to have a dramatic impact on business, the economy and society. More than 2,000 IT professionals from the world’s leading enterprises, rely on Gartner’s Emerging Trends Symposium/ITxpo event to gain insight into how their organizations can use technology to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency.

In Las Vegas, an integral part of Gartner Symposium is the ITxpo showfloor, where the latest cutting-edge solutions will be showcased by best-of-breed providers and up-and-comers. There are 11 ITxpo marketplaces, including Application Development & Integration, BI & Data Warehousing, BPM, DataCenter/IT Operations, Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Networking, Portals, Content & Collaboration, Outsourcing & IT Services, and Security & Compliance. ITxpo marketplaces are focused areas designed to aggregate solution providers into a specific market and link conference topics to market solutions. Attendees can attend technology company presentations and schedule face-to-face meetings with exhibitors of their choice. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/us/emergingtrends.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,000 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 75 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

Contacts

Gartner
Christy Pettey, 408-468-8312
christy.pettey {at} gartner(.)com