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Nikkei Computer

October 02, 2006 Issue <<Contents>>

FEATURE 1 Ranking Companies According to Their “IT Capability” What makes high-ranking companies different from other companies? - Nikkei Computer has developed a tool for comparing IT governance practices among corporate users in areas such as mechanisms for formulating and executing IT strategies and collaboration with user divisions. We call it “IT Capability.” Using this indicator, we have taken on the challenge of quantifying corporate users’ capability to use IT. Based on the ranking developed from the answers to a questionnaire survey, which was responded to by 178 listed and unlisted leading companies, this article examines specific efforts being made by top-ranked companies. - There are seven perspectives for evaluating a company’s “IT Capability” - Ricoh factors the results of IT investment into its performance evaluations - Rohm has formulated a five-year road map - Sony manages the quality of its products using a development methodology that the company created - Seven & I Holdings constantly monitors the use of information by users - Murata Manufacturing clearly defines the skills of employees using ITSS (IT Skill Standard) - Sumitomo Chemical has formulated rules for planning by introducing ERP - Through three specific meetings, Resona Bank manages the workings of companies to which it has outsourced some of its operations - We review the conditions of 178 companies that have emerged from the survey results - We look at advanced companies (in terms of “IT Capability”) that have been selected by personnel in charge of systems - We rank the top 100 companies in terms of overall performance FEATURE 2 Next-Generation Infrastructure to be Created Using Virtualization - The image of next-generation IT infrastructure is growing clearer. System resources such as servers, storage, and networks are to be virtualized in a “pool,” and the necessary resources are automatically allocated to applications when needed. Major IT vendors and venture companies are attempting to commercialize the new infrastructure, as the next product after the one that features the virtualization of a single server. This article examines what such companies are thinking and doing.

REPORTS

Inside

- The “994-day problem” with Nihon Unisys’s ES 7000 series high-end servers is discovered

- Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance is to re-establish its entire mission-critical system in a ¥45 billion investment project


News & Trends

- Companies operating data centers compete to expand their space in the Tokyo metropolitan area

- A series of troubles have occurred due to the failure of NTT East’s IP telephone system

- A series of document preparation tools have been launched in advance of the enactment of the Japanese version of the SOX Law

- Major computer manufacturers and vendors in Japan have banned the use of personally-owned PCs at work

- IBM has enhanced the autonomic computing function by creating an electronic “symptom catalogue”

- Hewlett-Packard plans to consolidate its data centers in the United States

- For the first time ever, Kabu.com has launched an auction-style proprietary stock-trading service in Japan

- Japan Post plans to invest ¥38 billion in a project to renovate its entire mail system


From BusinessWeek

- There are so many problems with the fast-growing YouTube


Actual Practice of Internal Control (8)

- Misawa Homes Holdings has improved its IT general controls using external evaluation services


News Flash for Each Industry

- Distribution: Circle K Sunkus has renovated its entire information system

- e-Japan : The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans a drastic review of its information security policy

PEOPLE

Interview
Masamitsu Sakurai: President and Chief Operating Officer, Ricoh Co., Ltd.

- We intend to reap results worth more than what we have invested in IT


Real Feelings Expressed by Top Executives
Eiji Ushio: Managing Director, Kintetsu World Express, Inc.

- The Japanese way of thinking tends to lead to excessive investment

CASE STUDIES

Investigation of a Noteworthy Project
Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.

- The company has assembled experienced employees in order to restructure its mission-critical system

Absolute Solutions for Enhancing IT Strategy
Sangikyo Corporation

- At President’s initiative, the company has thoroughly “visualized” business operations


A Computer That Does Not Work
Terumo Corporation

- The company has delayed the start of the production, sales and distribution system


Novel / Cyber Lawless Area

Third Chapter: Excessive Self-Defense (6)

MANAGEMENT/TECHNOLOGY

Hints for IT Managers
- The number of units is one of the important issues to consider when selecting hardware for the development of a system, and it is vital to prioritize the quality of support services when choosing software


Tips for IT Investment and Outsourcing
- It is important to clearly define the composition of operations when you establish investment processes


Risk Management That Brings a Project to Success
- It is necessary to ensure the quality of business specifications while taking into consideration post-process phases


An IT Project Recovery Management at the Site
- The fourth step for recovery (1): To develop a reliable recovery plan, it is important to determine the criteria for ending a project


IT Keywords You Should Have Known Long Ago

Functional Language