The explosion of high-tech startups since the deregulation of the telecommunications industry in 1997 is just one example of this trend. If you're not already partnering with the Aussies, just wait. You will be. Australia's remoteness may have hindered growth in the past, but today information technology and the Internet are bridging the gap between the Aussies and the rest of the world. The country's upcoming generation of CIOs is at the forefront of this revolution.
High tariffs make hardware extra expensive, so innovation is especially difficult.
Nevertheless, Australia cannot afford to fall behind the technology curve if it wants to compete in the global market. It's a precarious balancing act. The Aussies know they must go global to grow, but they are often hindered by the lack of funding and confidence to do so. How Australians have overcome the barrier of distance and isolation yields valuable lessons for any CIO today. Australian CIOs are finding creative ways to handle universal challenges like extending IT infrastructure, dealing with poor vendor support and approaching globalization.