Yet, the business-IT collaboration that resulted in that system has helped SINet evolve into a business backbone that has brought Schlumberger new efficiencies, cost savings and a new network services line of business. The initial SINet success and its subsequent evolution have helped cultivate a risk-taking attitude among Schlumberger's top decision makers. And we continue to take risks today. Others, like SBC's Mark Steinmetz, have moved on to bigger roles within their companies, in part because of their connections to these high-profile projects. In each of these projects you've seen people who are quite willing to be bold.
Adaptability is another common trait.
The most successful award-winning systems are those that are flexible enough to meet today's needs while anticipating tomorrow's. This exponential scale-up wouldn't have been possible had Glaser's team built the system to serve only Brigham and Women's immediate needs in 1993. For companies that want to achieve lasting value, the trick is to build systems that are solid enough to deliver hard results but flexible enough to adapt to technological, personnel and business changes. Tom Field is the CIO executive editor for editorial and community development. Click to Download.