TCS Annual Research Report 2008-09: Thought Leadership: TCS

Leading with Innovation in Difficult Times

S Ramadorai, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services

In a challenging environment, TCS depends on its capacity to innovate and stay nimble. This core value is in line with our Group’s vision of being ahead of the curve, investing in the future and delivering excellence. It is significant that this year the Tata Group has been voted among the most innovative companies in the world (ranked 4th in Asia and 8th in Europe; ranked 13th in North America).

This has been a tough year for our industry and for our customers. There have been issues for businesses not only in the financial services industry, but also in telecom, hi-tech and manufacturing industries. There is an energy crisis looming ahead. Consumer confidence is plummeting. While the global economy is changing beyond recognition, innovation and co-innovation partnerships will help to keep pace with, and stay ahead of, that change.

Historically, TCS has shown the capacity to innovate and lead change. We have been able to adapt quickly to new requirements and changing business scenarios. TCS transformed its operating model in 2008 and redefined markets in order to stay close to customers. We have also innovated on business and service models. Similarly, our research focus today has adapted to our customer goals. TCS R&D now focuses on several outcomes our customers desire: increased productivity and efficiency, simplification and transformation, agility, and risk management.

This is also a good time to speed up learning processes. We believe in applying technology for learning, information sharing and collaboration at many levels within and outside the organization - from individuals, to corporations, communities and countries, on to a global scale.

Our Co-innovation network creates a multi stakeholder community that enables a flow of ideas, some of them disruptive, anticipating needs in a changing market scenario. We have been able to leverage our partners’ capabilities not just for creation of intellectual property, but for innovating on business models and jointly creating and capturing value across the business value chain. We see great opportunity in leveraging global networks to address problems in healthcare, the environment and energy.

Rather than looking at the market as a constraining factor, we should look at it as an opportunity that will spur innovation. It is a time to address issues that our customers face, to keep us as well as our customers, ahead of competition and to reinforce our leadership position in the IT industry.

(Excerpts from the TCS Annual Research Report 2008-09)

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