Difficult times are good for innovation

NYSE-listed technology services firm CSC formed its Office of Innovation seven years ago based on the recognition that a consulting firm needs to bring new thinking and new ideas to its clients, as well as using innovation to reinvent itself. CSC has invested a significant amount of time and resources, and has created an innovation capability and focus within the Office of Innovation and throughout CSC that makes CSC a leader in its space. The Office of Innovation's scope is to generate ideas and develop intellectual capital for CSC. Uncertainties surrounding prospects for an upturn in global economic growth are the major retardants to IT growth, feels the CSC chief innovation officer Lem Lasher. "But difficult times are good for the creative application of technology to solve business problems. Many of the IT services that we do are really about cost cutting and bringing in efficiencies in the systems," he tells BV Mahalakshmi in a recent interaction. Excerpts:

What are the broad focus of activities for CSC in India? How important is the Indian market for CSC in terms of business?

CSC India currently employees over 24,000 employees There are 18 delivery centres in India, spread across Noida, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Indore and Vadodara. We offer IT services that span from cloud computing, cyber security, mobility, applications and infrastructure management, to business and technology consulting, systems integration and industry-specific solutions. CSC is committed to the India market and has firmed up its India sales team apart from its existing 24,000-odd employee base to support the business. It has been an exciting learning curve so far. We are in the Indian market for the long haul.

Can you tell us about the company's focus on innovation?

India drives a substantial portion of our innovation and application of new technologies. The core team that develops the packages for our thrust areas is based here in India. This is the base for our development activities for applications and infrastructure services, which also includes the centre for unified communication team. We also have the largest mobility practice of the company based in India. In fact, there are 20 centres of excellence globally, out of which six are based in India.

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