Gartner Says 66 Percent of Global 1000 Organizations Will Have Formal Technology...

Mon Apr 7, 2008 12:30pm EDT

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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
LAS VEGAS--(Business Wire)--
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.

Gartner
Christy Pettey, 408-468-8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com