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2006 InformationWeek 500



		Presenting the 2006 InformationWeek 500 For 18 years, the InformationWeek 500 has tracked the technology practices of the nation's most innovative companies. Documenting the business-technology strategies, investments, and administrative practices of some of America's best-known companies, this study offers a unique opportunity to understand and compare your company's IT approach against the most innovative users of technology. In fact, the InformationWeek 500 is the most detailed source of industry-specific IT budget information around. Compare your company's initiatives against the businesses in one or more of the 21 industries examined in this study or across the full 500. How The InformationWeek 500 Cracks Businesses' Toughest Problems It's not the frothy dot-com days. But new technologies and opportunities for change have made IT fun again. Selecting The InformationWeek 500 How InformationWeek identifies the most innovative users of technology Principal Financial Group Targets 15 Million Customers Meet our No. 1 company Principal Financial Group. View the lists: The listing of the top 250 companies sorted by rank or as a (138 kb) downloadable PDF file. View the full listing of the 2006 InformationWeek 500 sorted alphabetically, sorted by industry or as a (149 kb) downloadable PDF file. (note: PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader.) Multiyear Comparisons Of InformationWeek 500 Survey Data Reveals IT Trends: While IT budgets have varied over time and across industries, the one constant is that the largest chunk remains devoted to IT salaries and benefits. With that in mind, InformationWeek 500 winners are continually striving for greater efficiency and more streamlined businesses processes. This year's survey revealed an expansion beyond overseas outsourcing to an embrace of global strategies. 20 Great Ideas From InformationWeek 500 Companies They're an innovative bunch. There's probably a notion or two worth borrowing for your business. *The InformationWeek* 500 Research report:** For 18 years, the InformationWeek 500 has tracked the IT practices of the nation's most innovative IT organizations. The InformationWeek 500 report examines business and technology best practices, IT investments, and provides industry comparisons. Use these findings to benchmark your company's strategies against the nation's most innovative users of IT as identified by the 2006 InformationWeek 500.

Top Companies



		Top Company: Principal Financial Group Principal Financial Group Targets 15 Million Customers Tech innovator offers workers Web tools for managing their assets and uses database marketing to effectively package products. Number 2: Automated Data Processing ADP Writes More Than Checks ADP uses SOA to quickly and cost effectively create new services to sell to customers. Number 3: American Power Conversion APC Wants To Know You A Whole Lot Better APC's CRM program identifies customers' touch points with the company, captures information on failed interactions, and figures out what's needed to make the fix. Number 4: Global Crossing Global Crossing Goes From Bankrupt To Innovative In Four Years Global Crossing is using presence-enabled collaboration tools in ways that many companies haven't yet dreamed of. Number 5: International Truck and Engine International Truck Embraces SOA -- Warts And All The IT team knew some standards and commercial products wouldn't meet their needs. But they knew it was the right strategic direction.

Down To Business



		Are You IW500 Material? Our annual ranking of the most innovative tech organizations bucks some of the conventional wisdom. Same for the tech leaders behind those organizations.

Stop, Look And Listen



		Interactive Map: Think Globally, Search Locally Our interactive map not only provides a geographic breakdown of the InformationWeek 500 winners; it also serves up regionally relevant data points from our 2006 Salary Survey. Slideshow: Fast Facts About The InformationWeek 500 Here's eight fast facts on InformationWeek 500 companies in a slide show. See how well your company measures up. InformationWeek 500 Video Watch exclusive video from this year's top 5 companies and 2004 InformationWeek 500 winner E.&J. Gallo Winery's Kent Kushar. InformationWeek 500 Podcasts Hear exclusive podcasts with 2005 InformationWeek 500 winner Capitol One's Gregor Bailar and 2002 InformationWeek 500 winner HIP Health Plan's Pedro Villalba.

Leaders In Innovation

Six InformationWeek 500 companies stand out as top innovators in their use of specific technologies. They were selected based on their work in one of the following areas: information security, productivity, wireless, supply chain, customer intimacy, and emerging technology. Included below with our own analysis are excerpts from their winning entries.

Information Security: Cigna Corp. Trust Matters To Cigna Benefits provider toes that fine line between providing access to health information and protecting sensitive data.	Productivity: Constellation Energy Group Inc. Constellation Energy Uses IT To Get Employees Working Together And More Productively Standardized collaboration tools, wireless networks, and a companywide portal bring utility's four divisions closer together, saving time and money.	Wireless Innovation: MassMutual Financial Group MassMutual Clients Use Pocket PCs To Build Nest Eggs The companys interactive, self-service system has dramatically improved enrollment rates during clients retirement planning meetings.

Supply Chain Innovation: Sun Microsystems Inc. Sun Takes Built-To-Order To The Next Level Under One Touch effort, Sun products ship to customers directly from contract manufacturers, cutting logistics costs by 20%.	Customer Intimacy: FedEx Corp. FedEx Locks In Customers By Tying Shipping Data To Back-Office Apps Customers can link their invoicing, billing, accounting, and inventory systems with FedExs shipping data.	Emerging Technology Automatic Data Processing Inc. ADP Automates SOA Development And Deployment SOA helps ADP deliver new services to customers, but the development process can be complicated and fraught with problems.