ICTAM Chair Loren Cisyk on building a stronger ICTAM and a smarter planet

January 25, 2010

IBM's Loren Cisyk steps down as ICTAM board chair this month after three years at the helm.  He recently took a few minutes to reflect on what ICTAM means to the ICT sector, and what the sector as a whole means to economic development.

To say ICTAM has come a long way in the past three years is an understatement. Membership growth has been steady as the staff and board members worked in partnership to craft an organization keenly attuned to the needs of its membership within the context of relentless economic and technological change. Loren Cisyk, Regional Manager for IBM had a front row seat as the association undertook to grow not just in size but stature, gaining strength, credibility and a clearly articulated voice with which to speak on behalf of Manitoba's burgeoning ICT sector. And he couldn't be more proud.

"We took an organization that was volunteer based and turned it into an organization that is there for its members in a truly value added way; from education and professional development to advocacy. That's a great achievement and it's a shared one. Our board, our staff and our members have come together in a way that continually opens up new possibilities. It's been a very exciting, very rewarding time."

As ICTAM has matured, so too has the sector it represents, as organizations and businesses come to terms with the need for continuous innovation to fuel their growth, and the benefits of banding together to leverage their collective strength.

"ICTAM is the organization that represents this sector. We've done our homework," says Cisyk. "There's a keen appreciation of both the opportunities and challenges our members face and a clearly articulated plan for moving the sector forward. We've had great support from government and business, largely because there is recognition there that ICT is the fuel of our economy. Innovation in every sector is largely dependent upon information technologies. So there's an understanding that support for the ICT sector will contribute to economic and social development across the board."

There's also the sense that ICT firms are recognizing the value a strong, cohesive voice brings to their work. "People who are engaged are getting tremendous value out of their membership. We have the ability to bring resources together to address the business development needs of our members and introduce them to new ways of thinking on issues ranging from human resource management to marketing to supply chain analysis."

Another key benefit is the opportunity for members to learn more about each other. That's the sort of thing Cisyk feels is essential if our ICT firms are to fully exploit their potential and extend their reach into markets beyond Manitoba's boarders. "One of the most satisfying aspects of my time with ICTAM has been watching the increasing synergy between members. That's the sort of thing that will truly propel our sector and the entire economy forward. The energy level is amazing."

And synergy is something Cisyk knows a thing or two about. The regional manager for IBM in Winnipeg recently returned from a trip to China, where IBM staff members mentored a number of business owners on a variety of issues. As part of the company's Corporate Services Corps (CSC) Cisyk participated in team-based activities designed to promote leadership skills, and to impart them in a way that reflects IBM's framework for business development.  Cisyk worked with IBM colleagues from India, Brazil, Austria, Netherlands, USA and Japan.

"It's part of our own leadership development program at IBM. We go into an emerging market and apply diagnostic tools designed to reveal areas requiring improvement, then we sit down as a team to create strategies to address those concerns. Throughout the process we worked with the Chinese business owners to assess opportunities to implement change."

Not surprisingly, language presented a significant challenge to the process. There was a limited time in which to work, and much of it was spent in translation. That's all part of the process, says Cisyk, who says the opportunity was as beneficial to him as it was to his Chinese counterparts.

"IBM offers us these opportunities because it's truly global. There's a fundamental understanding that we have much to learn from each other, and that as a company we can only improve by reaching out to partner with people from every corner of the globe. We're developing our own leadership skills while growing in our appreciation of other cultures, languages and economies."

One of the things Cisyk says makes IBM a perfect fit to mentor business leaders in other parts of the world is the company's corporate culture, which is consistent throughout the 160 plus countries in which it operates. One Chinese business he worked with needed advice on creating a culture that was efficient and productive, something Cisyk says he and his team felt uniquely qualified to offer. "We're globally oriented and our culture and tools are common so you can bring a team together in moments and while we may be from different countries, we are speaking the same corporate language. It's incredibly efficient."

Whether in China or Manitoba, however, Cisyk says ICT companies are facing similar issues. "For example, SMEs have problems common around the world," he says. "Individual skills, performance appraisals, motivation; much of it is the same. Sharing our skills and our perspective is essential to breaking new ground no matter where you live."

So as he prepares to hand over the reigns as chairman at the ICTAM annual general meeting, Cisyk says he's more committed than ever to enhancing opportunities for ICT firms to work together, to share knowledge and to create the future.

"The world is moving at an incredible pace. Organizations, no matter where they're located, are striving for innovation. They're using technology to get that edge. We need to remain committed to supporting innovation within the ICT sector to achieve a smarter planet."