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G Rajagopalan,
CIO,
Tata Power
The role of a CIO has evolved from being a conventional IT manager- looking only after IT solutions- to being more of a process and business enabler.
A CIO should have a holistic view of all the processes and how these processes can be integrated. Normally, operations people in the organization work in silos and it is the CIO who needs to bind them. This can be done by providing valuable inputs in the improvement of processes within the organization.
Over a period of time we have developed a number of heterogeneous applications like HR and other such applications that are operating in silos. The challenge for us is integrating all these and putting them on a common platform.
Another area of concern for us is getting skilled resources. We have found that there is a shortage in recruiting technically qualified people for the utility companies in India. To tackle this issue we developed a two-pronged approach.
First was to identify key components of IT where we can build in house strength and expertise. Second was to outsource IT functions for which skill sets are available in the market. We may do this within the Tata Group or take help of some third party solutions.
We are also service providers to our internal customers. At Tata Power we are deploying Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)-based services that involve the concepts and techniques for managing information technology. We have redefined all our internal processes for ITIL compliance.
In addition, we are in the process of identifying information cubes that the organization needs as a part of business requirements. When we speak of Business Intelligence (BI) at Tata Power, we look at two things. One is to integrate BI with our existing business systems. The second is to be in a position to utilize the business and portal solutions available and simplify IT operations for the users.
The top management generally has the feeling that the ERP systems are cumbersome to operate. It is better to have these reports made available through a browser and then create a dashboard. This will provide them with easy access.
This is the essence for adopting enterprise portals. We are also working on some proof of concepts and have already identified the management dash board parameters. When it comes to technology, a CIO has to work on instinct.
Top five management tips:
- Understand business
- Build bridge between business and technology
- Work by instinct
- Nurture IT talent
- Never stop learning
-------------------------------------------- As told to Ashwani Mishra
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