Keeping a Strategic Edge While Remaining Innovative During this Economic Transition is Focus of Summer 2001 Technology Trends from Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting.Business Editors SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2001 "Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Promise" is the theme of the Summer 2001 Technology Trends quarterly publication from the Technology & Communications practices of Deloitte & Touche LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol and Deloitte Consulting L.P. This edition provides insights and practical advice on how business leaders can keep their strategic edge, while still remaining innovative, during this period of economic transition. Among the topics examined are mergers and acquisitions, cash flow management, and infrastructure issues. "The inventive spirit at the heart of successful technology and communications companies will carry them through these difficult economic times," said Mark Evans, managing director of Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group based in Silicon Valley. "The survivors who adapt to change will emerge stronger and more vibrant for having weathered this economic downturn." Technology Trends examines practical ways companies can not only survive but excel in today's economic climate and provides insight on new technologies that are poised to take companies to new levels. Mergers & Acquisitions, Cash Preservation and Restructuring Can be Keys to Success In uncertain economic times, business decisions can make the difference between success and failure. This quarter's Technology Trends examines business issues companies are currently struggling with, including: -- Mergers & Acquisitions -- In today's market, M&A deals clearly need to add value, not just revenue, and they need to fit a company's long-range plans. This article examines how integration planning can help facilitate a successful M&A deal and how shared definitions of success can play a roll in a win-win merger or acquisition. -- Cash Preservation -- The economy has been teaching technology and communications companies an old lesson: However brilliant the business model, cash is still king. This article studies the art of saving money while maintaining a long-term growth track -- and without robbing from the future by over-promising new product developments or losing top talent. -- Restructuring -- During an economic boom, fast-growing companies tend to be strong on product but weak on structure. To survive during a downturn, however, companies need to confront ignored organization problems. This article discusses how to make organization changes that fit within the greater strategies. Technological Developments Charge Ahead, Seemingly Oblivious to the Economy Despite the current economic environment, the pace of innovation remains unhindered unhindered Adjective not prevented or obstructed: unhindered access Adverb without being prevented or obstructed: he was able to go about his work unhindered . This quarter's Technology Trends examines technologies that are making significant strides and are poised to become a significant part of everyday business, including: -- Nanotechnology -- A hybrid science of engineering and technology, nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize a number of industries with super-strong, super-tiny materials. This article probes into the practical ways companies are using this futuristic technology in business and industry. -- Anti-piracy in the music industry -- Following Napster's lead, the online music industry hopes technology will prevent future music file copying File copying is creation of a new file which has the same content as an existing file. All operating systems include file copying in the user interface, like "cp" in Unix and "copy" in MS-DOS; operating systems with GUIs usually provide copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop . Using digital rights management systems, record companies can control how their content is distributed, which will ultimately lead to new business models. -- XML XML in full Extensible Markup Language. Markup language developed to be a simplified and more structural version of SGML. It incorporates features of HTML (e.g., hypertext linking), but is designed to overcome some of HTML's limitations. -- Extensible Markup Language See XML. (language, text) Extensible Markup Language - (XML) An initiative from the W3C defining an "extremely simple" dialect of SGML suitable for use on the World-Wide Web. http://w3.org/XML/. (XML) is being touted as the next big thing for enterprise networks and has the backing of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates (person) Bill Gates - William Henry Gates III, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, which he co-founded in 1975 with Paul Allen. In 1994 Gates is a billionaire, worth $9.35b and Microsoft is worth about $27b. . Users define their own data, making it possible to easily identify and exchange information. This article reveals the truth behind the hype, and the advantages and challenges of XML. -- Zero Latency (1) Having no delay between the time a request is initiated and the response is given. See latency. (2) (Zero Latency) Coined by the GartnerGroup, it is the immediate exchange of information across geographical, technical and organizational boundaries so that all Enterprise (ZLE ZLE Zero-Latency Enterprise ) -- The success of ZLE would allow companies to finally enjoy system-based, real-time response capabilities. This article examines the challenges, the breakthroughs and the future of Zero Latency. Issues Examined by Today's Leading Technology Luminaries Designed to assist in the building of innovative, successful technology and communications companies, Technology Trends examines topical issues and offers opinions by industry leaders and analysts. Among those featured are (in alphabetical order): -- Michael Aldridge Michael William ffolliott Aldridge[1] (9 September 1920 – 10 January 1994) was an English actor. Michael Aldridge was born in Glastonbury, Somerset, England in 1920. , lead product manager, Microsoft's Windows Digital Media Division -- Jason Auerbach, principal, Broadview International -- Jeff Balentine, National Management Solutions & Services leader, Deloitte & Touche, Technology & Communications Group -- Greg Battas, director and chief architect, ZLE, Compaq -- Jon Bosak Jon Bosak led the creation of the XML specification at the W3C. Tim Bray, who was one of the editors of the XML specification, has this to say in his note on Bosak in his annotated version of the spec: "Jon Bosak is the single person without whose efforts XML would most , distinguished engineer, Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. -- Suzan DelBene, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Nimble Technology -- Bob Doering, senior IT fellow, Texas Instruments See TI. (company) Texas Instruments - (TI) A US electronics company. A TI engineer, Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit in 1958. Three TI employees left the company in 1982 to start Compaq. -- Jennifer Fonstad, managing director, Draper Fisher Jurvetson Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California with affiliate offices in more than 30 cities around the world and over $4.5 billion in capital commitments. -- Tony Gerth, principal, Deloitte Consulting -- Larry Hile, partner-in-charge, Deloitte & Touche, Technology & Communications Group -- Jeff Jones There are several notable people named Jeff Jones, including:
California Mergers & Acquisitions practice -- Phyllis Klees, National Human Capital leader, Deloitte & Touche, Technology & Communications Group -- Naresh Lakhanpal, national practice director of products and services, Deloitte & Touche, Technology & Communications Group -- Jay Lindquist, senior vice president and general manager, FEI FEI Fédération Équestre Internationale. Co. -- David Litwack, president and CEO, SilverStream -- Doug McDonald, co-chair, Deloitte & Touche Canadian Corporate Finance Group -- Rob McGovern, chairman and CEO, CareerBuilder -- Peter O'Kelly, senior analyst, The Patricia Seybold Group -- Jouk v. i. 1. See Juke. Paraszcak, chief technology officer, Global Digital Content & Media Group, IBM -- Jouk Pleiter, president and co-founder, Tridion -- James Von Ehr, president, Zyvex -- Todd Walter, chief technical officer, the Terradata Development Division of NCR (NCR Corporation, Dayton, OH, www.ncr.com) A technology company specializing in financial terminal transactions, retail systems and data warehousing. Until the late 1990s, NCR was heavily invested in the hardware side of the industry, known worldwide as a major manufacturer of computers -- Dennis Wilson Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4 1944 – December 28 1983) was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. Beach Boys Early career , president, Nanotechnologies About Technology Trends Technology Trends is a quarterly publication, including an annual report, produced by the Technology & Communications practices of Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting. Technology Trends was created to highlight and examine changing technologies and practices with the objective of helping companies find new, unique solutions to business challenges. About Deloitte & Touche Deloitte & Touche LLP, one of the nation's leading professional services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting Noun 1. management consulting - a service industry that provides advice to those in charge of running a business service industry - an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects services through nearly 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping its clients and its people excel. Known as an employer of choice for its innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for four consecutive years. Deloitte & Touche is the U.S. national practice of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Deloitte & Touche (also referred to as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and branded as Deloitte.) is the second largest professional services firm in the world, and one of the Big Four auditors, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and KPMG. . Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity. For more information, visit Deloitte & Touche's Web site at www.us.deloitte.com. About Deloitte Consulting Deloitte Consulting is one of the world's leading consulting firms, providing services in all aspects of enterprise transformation, from strategy and process to information technology and human resources. The firm's professionals help clients, from new economy start-ups to Fortune 1000 global organizations, to create, reinvent and defend their business models by guiding them through the complexities of the evolving digital economy. Deloitte Consulting is part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, one of the world's leading professional services firms, providing world-class consulting, assurance and advisory, and tax services through nearly 90,000 people in more than 130 countries to nearly one-fifth of the world's largest companies, public institutions and successful fast-growing companies. For more information about Deloitte Consulting, visit www.dc.com. About Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group The Technology & Communications Group is composed of service professionals who have a wealth of experience serving technology and communications companies throughout the world in areas including Internet, software, semiconductors, cable, media and publishing, communication utilities, networking, wireless, computers and peripherals, and related industries. These specialists understand the challenges that technology and communications companies face throughout all stages of their business growth cycle and are committed to helping them succeed. Deloitte & Touche is a leader in providing strategic, financial, operational, and information technology assistance to its technology and communications clients. Technology Trends contains general information only, and neither Deloitte & Touche nor Deloitte Consulting is, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect you or your business. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. In addition, prediction of future events is inherently subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. Neither Deloitte & Touche nor Deloitte Consulting shall be responsible for any loss sustained by any person or entity that relies on this publication. Note to Editors: All names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are used for information purposes only. |
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