Innovation accounts for a mere 21% of total corporate IT spending, according to Mark Harris, GM of IBM SA, speaking at yesterday`s ITWeb IT Confidence conference in Midrand.
Harris, who is also president of the US Chamber of Commerce in SA, urged business leaders to "develop a collaborative culture that brings together unexpected sources to generate new ideas".
Recent IBM research indicates that CIOs and CTOs recognise innovation as the most important capability for growth, he revealed, adding that it ranked above the ability to allocate talent and manage a global organisation.
Harris advised that CEOs can "widen the circle of innovation" in four ways: redefining the business model, extending partnerships and encouraging collaboration, furthering the integration of business and technology, and creating organisational momentum for change.
He believes that emerging technologies like grid computing, autonomic computing, nano technology, embedded systems and wireless technology can have application in developing innovative methods and lowering IT costs.
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