The Concours Executive Forum
The Concours Executive Forum (CEF) is a limited, invitation only group of the world's top IT executives. We explore critically important issues from two perspectives - the CIO of a large, complex organization and the Board/Chief Executive's Office. We address topics that directly impact the strategy formulation processes of member's corporations.
Members of the CEF are increasingly asked to take on executive leadership responsibility for both horizontal integration and innovation management opportunities in their corporation. These new responsibilities are in addition to executive oversight of the information systems function. Our members are often charged with driving major initiatives in these areas. Many of these executives have taken on titles such as COO, VP Enterprise Integration, Chief Supply Chain Officer, and Chief Innovation Officer. The CEF addresses the latest thinking on issues such as governance, innovation transformation, and operational effectiveness to help our members be prepared for the imminent challenges they face.
This program began in 2003 as a forum for CIOs to learn about and share their perspective on topics facing executives at the highest levels of their corporations. The program was originally conceived by retired Professor James I. Cash to leverage his experience as a board member of some of the world's largest companies and his 27 years of tenure on the Harvard Business School faculty. In 2007, Jim brought in Dr. Nick Vitalari and Dr. Keri Pearlson as partners in developing unique, highly valued learning experiences for the group.
Today, the Concours Executive Forum is designed to facilitate interaction between members themselves, as well as with Jim, Nick, Keri and other subject matter experts, in a highly focused format that is respectful of the member's time.
Annually, there are three one-day meetings and a major research project. The meeting agenda typically includes a subject matter expert and additional interactive sessions. For those able to arrive the evening prior, we plan a not-to-be-missed social activity. Detailed agendas are sent to members in advance of the meetings.
The 2008 dates are:
- April 15 in Washington DC
- June 17 in Boston
- October 7 in Seattle
The major research project for 2008 is entitled "Redefining Employee Computing." Corporations today face a growing crisis. In the midst of an abundant stream of information technology options, employees from the executive to the front line service representative find the corporate "end user" experience in need of an overhaul. "End-user computing" remains a burdensome challenge in large corporations, and the assumptions underlying its management have become obsolete.
It's time for major corporations to rethink how they equip and enable employees to incorporate technology into their jobs. It's time to lower costs, embrace more capable technology, enable new levels of collaboration, and improve performance by getting out of the "end-user computing" business as we've practiced it for decades. The new employees demand more flexibility; indeed, the next generation enterprise demands it. This research program will enable participants to explore the feasibility, benefits, and methods of dramatically revamping their approaches to employee computing.
In addition to the three one-day meetings and the major research project, CEF membership includes participation for you and your staff in the 90-day IT- Re.sults research projects and access to the complete library of prior IT Re.sults projects. The Re.sults projects for 2008 are listed below:
- Building a Platform for Business Growth (February) - How to configure business assets - processes, people, and technology - into a flexible platform for business innovation, collaboration, and growth.
- Achieving Shared Services Integration (May) - How to deliver IT, HR, and other corporate capabilities as business-oriented services rather than traditional separate functions.
- IT Management in a Next Generation Enterprise (July) - How to adjust the general management of IT, as well as project, program, portfolio, asset, staffing, and vendor management, for on-demand business performance.
- Putting Business Simulation Technologies to Work (October) - How to leverage today's powerful simulation technologies in key areas including performance optimization, customer experience, and planning and executing strategic change.