The Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2003 in Cannes Takes Stock of IT in Business and What Needs to be Done in 2004
Leaders from Nokia, SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, HP and IBM to participate in keynote interviews
United Kingdom, 19 September 2003 — Gartner today announced details around its Symposium/ITxpo 2003, taking place in Cannes, France from 4-7 November.
At what is recognised as the IT industry's largest and most strategic conference, delegates will hear leading Gartner analysts take stock of the IT industry and present the best of its research to advise delegates on how to best prepare for 2004. More than 200 presentations will feature topics ranging from wireless technology and outsourcing to business process fusion and impact of continued market consolidation.
"Continuing demand for better results from the huge investments in IT is fuelling fundamental change at every point in the IT value net. Gartner's long-term predictions will focus on the repositioning and fusion that is taking place in technology, products, services, applications, processes, skills, strategies, roles and goals," said Roger Fulton, Vice President Gartner research.
He continued "After several years of strong focus on cost cutting, Gartner believes 2004 will see business expectations of IT expand again. IT will be asked to contribute much more towards increasing business performance and managing risk. Cost pressures will remain strong - the emphasis will be to do more with less. Symposium/ITxpo is therefore geared to help attendees optimise their IT infrastructure and make the right choices in a market that continues to be volatile. At the same time it will look beyond 2004 to ensure keep ahead of the most significant trends."
This year, the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in Europe sees a record line up of leaders from some of the largest IT corporations in the world, who will join Gartner analysts on stage to face tough questions on IT issues of vital concern to the audience. The six leaders participating in the external keynotes are:
Jorma Ollila, CEO Nokia
Henning Kagermann, CEO SAP
Jean-Philippe Courtois, Senior Vice President Microsoft Corporation
Sergio Giacoletto, Excecutive Vice President Oracle
Kasper Rorsted, Senior Vice President HP EMEA
Rodney A Smith, IBM fellow & VP IBM Corporation
The blend of independent advice about the future, best practice workshops and peer networking, combined with external keynotes and the exhibition of technology solution providers at ITxpo, makes the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo an unrivalled platform for businesses to assess their strategies and make the right IT decisions for 2004.
Some examples of the tracks and sessions at Symposium/ITxpo in Cannes are:
Gartner predicts 2004 - Gartner predicts the future of IT
Business Process Fusion: Enabling the Real-Time Enterprise
Strategies for IT leaders: Managing complexity in 2004 and beyond
Who says IT doesn't matter anymore? Taking business value of IT to the next level
CIO agenda 2003-4: Drive Enterprise effectiveness
Powerhouse vendors-IBM: Will On-demand lead to growth?
"New for this year is that presentations have been earmarked as 'essential or recommended' according to IT professionals' job function. This will help delegates tailor-make individual agendas and get the most out of the event," said Lisa Cerullo-Riley senior Director at Gartner Events.
ITxpo 2003 Show Floor/ Marketplace
An integral part of the Gartner Symposium is the ITxpo showfloor, where more than 80 vendors will give attendees and press an opportunity to see and experience the latest technology solutions. ITxpo marketplaces, focussed areas designed to aggregate solution providers in a specific market, will link conference learning to market solutions. There are 7 topics, including mobile and wireless, Outsourcing and IT services and storage and security. A new opportunity this year allows delegates to book face to face meetings with an exhibitor of their choice.
About Gartner Symposium/ITxpo
Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is the IT industry's largest and most strategic conference, providing business leaders with a look at the future of IT. For more than 10,000 IT professionals from the world's leading enterprises, Gartner's annual Symposium/ITxpo events are key components of their annual planning efforts. Attendees rely on Gartner Symposium/ITxpo to gain insight into how their organizations can use technology to address business challenges and improve operational efficiency. For more information, please visit http://www.gartner.com/eu/symposium.
About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. is the leading provider of
research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more
than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives
in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the
investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis
and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology
decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Gartner Intelligence, research and
events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer
networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific
emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in
Stamford, Connecticut, and has 3,700 associates, including more than 1,000 research
analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information,
visit www.gartner.com.
