IT Renaissance – Post Recession

Ramesh Chandak,

Sr. Program Manager,

Microsoft R&D (India) Pvt. Ltd.

When winds of change blow, some people build walls, some people build windmills.  So, it is a matter of perspective.  Invest time to introspect, set new goals, and find new ways of reaching them. For leaders and managers of organizations, managing during an economic downturn is full of challenges and obstacles. For some organizations, these times are fertile with opportunities.   Many organizations consider this as an opportunity to focus on their core strengths, creativity and innovation.  In these uncertain times, Microsoft has the ability and will to survive.   This has been an opportunity for Microsoft to look within and turn threats into opportunities.   In a recent interview (Sep 2009), Steve Ballmer (CEO, Microsoft) specifically highlighted seven businesses that he hopes to dramatically build and/or expand over the new few years: 

• PC Innovation
• Communication/Productivity Tools
• Phone
• TV
• Search
• Enterprise Infrastructure and Servers
• Application Development

Likewise, this is an opportunity for YOU to identify your strengths and put together the best possible personal brand.   Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.   

According to IDC global chief research officer John Gantz: 

• Current global financial crisis will not stiffle long, strong IT growth through to 2012 
• We are in the middle of economic crisis, but not technology crash.  Every part of IT industry is adopting change from the way we write our software e.g. SAAS (Software-As-A-Service)
• Technology boom & bust operates on a 15-year cycle; New technology paradigm creates speculative bubble followed by a crash within 5 years; We are now 7 to 8 years after Internet crash, so we are actually lining up for growth
• Role of IT – Change Agent for businesses. 
• Growth through 2012
• Number of servers to double Thanks! to virtualization
• Number of mobiles devices to triple creating opportunities for security and capacity planning.
• Growth in non-traditional devices (e.g. PDAs, etc.) operating on network – creating opportunities around security, reliability, software, telemetry, and operational control. 
• Information to grow 5.1 times creating security, privacy, management, and storage challenges
• Number of user interactions (i.e. number of users X number of ways users can communicate X number of instances the users communicate) to grow 8.1 times
• Who else but IT can facilitate end user enablement for Web 2.0
• This is the best time in 15 years for businesses to use technology as a competitive advantage!

Tips:

Here are a few tips you may find helpful: 

• Be realistic about the time it will take to find a job.  Look for part-time or freelance opportunities. This is a great way to enhance your skills (business etiquette, project management, negotiation, influencing) and impress a potential long term employer. 
• Find opportunities in your current position.  Run a Microsoft Student Tech Club at your college. Actively participate in Microsoft’s Imagine Cup competition.   
• Network! Network!! Network!!! YOU are a brand!  Polish and market it!!  You are not leading if no one can find you.
• Lastly, ACE the interview! GO Prepared!!! Research the company, group, and opening. Ask good questions.  

Be Forward Looking

In one of his interviews, Azim Premji (Chairman & CEO, Wipro) shared his secrets to success and I quote: 

• The biggest enemy of future success is past success. When you succeed, you feel that you must be doing something right for it to happen. But, when the parameters for success changes, doing the same things may or may not continue to lead to success. 
• Invest in uncompromised integrity 
• Routines represent our own zones of comfort. There is a sense of predictability about them. They have structured our time and even our thought in a certain way. While routines are useful, do not let them enslave you. Deliberately break out of them from time to time. 
• Life's battle does not always go to the person who is stronger and faster. The person who wins is the person who thinks he can. 
• Always keep in mind that it is only the test of fire that makes fine steel

Date: 5th March, 2010
Time: 3 P.M
Venue: D.M.Sen Complex