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While India's talent pool has been involved in creating a successful software services industry, it must focus on issues that transform society, said Mr Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM.
Delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Science, Mr Palmisano said, “India has a large and wonderfully successful software export industry and IBM competes with many of the Indian firms. But how about the talent pool diversifying to focus on issues that transform society and lead to great economic development – such as education, clean water and healthcare? India has tremendous intellectual capital – but how much of its priorities are social issues? I don't know…”
Emphasising that technology is a tool for transformation, Mr Palmisano said, “Technology is not about gadgets, Web sites and the ‘next big things'. It's not about learning how to tweet or use an iPad. Information technology isn't just a back-office engine. Technology is about the way our world works. It is the way we see the world.”
‘smarter planet'
It is important to create a “smarter planet” that will take care of issues such as sustainability, congestion and traffic, said the IBM chief, who is on a visit to India in commemoration of the company's completion of 100 years.
Reminiscing IBM's century-old journey, Mr Palmisano said IBM started off making clocks, scales and even cheese slicers before going on to typewriters, calculators, and then supercomputers, PCs, services, software and analytics.
“We have continually changed what we do. The need for continual forward movement is part of our business model.., and the only way for a tech company to stay out of commodity hell,” said Mr Palmisano, making a reference to IBM's exit from the PC business, which was getting too commoditised.
Even as you embrace change, do not compromise on the company's belief system. “Be prepared to change everything except the company's beliefs. The need for a foundation of belief and values is greater today than ever before.”
Cloud computing
Earlier in the day, Mr Palmisano addressed IBM employees at the offices here. He said IBM's key differentiator in the marketplace going forward would be ‘enterprise' cloud computing while competition is focussed on SMEs.
Commenting on its performance during the recession, Mr Palmisano said although the global economy was down, IBM had exceeded market expectations in the past two years.
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