Interactive Presentation "Simplifying Business Growth in A Complex World" with Larry Bossidy, Author & Former CIO of Honeywell
Considered by most business and technology executives to be one of the top three or four most influential business leaders of our time – this is a unique opportunity to experience one of the few industry speeches he grants. Bossidy, the former CEO of Honeywell, will conduct an interactive presentation and discussion on the topic of "Simplifying Business Growth in A Complex World." He’ll address the basic business model for making money, providing attendees with a big-picture view of the structural changes affecting business and the strategic tools for confronting this reality effectively. Proving that execution is a learnable discipline, Bossidy will show how all executives must get down to basics, know the business, and apply the most fundamental technologies that allow the business to function and grow. He’ll explain how effective execution requires relentless questioning, analyzing, following-through, and problem solving—and it demands that you face reality.

Opening Keynote - "Genomics: From Medicine to the Environment," J. Craig Venter, President, Venter Institute for the Study of Human Genomics,
Because of his lengthy experience leading a key partner in the Human Genome Project, Venter knows a lot about managing through a complex project that means understanding basic technologies and processes on a massive scale. His Sunday night opening keynote, "Taming The Tiger: How To Optimize Infrastructure and Processes On A Massive Scale," will leverage what he learned during The Human Genome Project, which completed the sequencing of human DNA for improved health care and research in 2003. It was a massively complex and distributed 13-year project that involved an unprecedented coordination of high-end technology infrastructures, complex business and research processes, and the cooperation of competing public and private ventures. Leading the way from the private sector was Venter, former CEO of Celera Genomics. Venter advocated both a shared-database and privately competitive approaches to the project that, with the help of many other organizations, led to the completion of the Human Genome Project two years ahead of schedule. He will discuss the technology infrastructure and process optimization techniques, including BPO, PM, BI, and systems management, that worked to such great success on a grand scale.

Learn from InformationWeek’s Chief of the Year: Robert B. Carter, EVP & CIO of FedEx about "The Inside Story of FedEx's Platform Transformation"
Robert B. Carter, CIO of FedEx has been selected as InformationWeek’s 2005 Chief of the Year (12/5 issue), a unique honor bestowed on the individual that demonstrates the most innovative, influential, and unique application of business technology and exemplifies leadership in his or her role. This is a unique opportunity to learn from the most outstanding leader in IT as he conducts a spotlight session leading off Monday morning at the conference. Carter will provide "The Inside Story of FedEx's Platform Transformation," an infrastructure optimization case study. Attendees will hear directly from Carter how the company makes its technology infrastructure the catalyst to growing and improving all parts of its businesses, and how all companies, despite size and budget, can adopt similar techniques. FedEx has become a model for all companies of infrastructure optimization and strengthening the “core.” In 2005, FedEx completed an IT transformation overhaul focused on five key areas: cost effectiveness, speed, innovation, service levels, and business alignment, and did it all on a smaller IT budget than the year prior. In that interim, FedEx revenues rose 19% and profits rose 73%, in part due to this streamlining. The company has stepped up IT R&D efforts and is about to launch several innovations in customer service for package shipments.

Facilitated Networking Opportunities - Before, During and After the Conference
In response to attendee demand, InformationWeek has created more opportunities for attendees to network with each other and share best practices. It all begins with InformationWeek Connect, an exclusive peer-to-peer networking service that is accessible online as soon as a participant registers and completes his/her profile and preferences. In addition to making the content more interactive, we’ve established several facilitated networking environments onsite, both in traditional workshop environments as well as in more relaxed, “oasis-like” settings. With our new event format, there is now more time in the afternoon to conduct business conversations, and tools and space are provided by InformationWeek to enhance the networking experience.

Birds-of-a-Feather Interactive Discussions- Led by InformationWeek Editors and CIO Executive Board Analysts
Under two concurrent tracks, one focused on specific technologies and one on business strategies, attendees are invited to participate in roundtable discussions focused on some of the most pressing business technology issues today. Led by InformationWeek editors and CIO Executive Board analysts, the format of the discussions will provide attendees with the opportunity to find solutions and share best practices with peers experiencing similar challenges. Technologies include business intelligence, SOA, middleware, and business activity monitoring, while business strategy roundtables cover security plans that promote business innovation, managing a wireless infrastructure, improving analysis of customer data, and preventing regulatory issues from undermining IT advancements.

Exclusive Unveiling of InformationWeek Research - "State of the Software Industry 2006"
Timed to coincide with the conference, InformationWeek will unveil the results of an extensive study of software vendors with its “State of the Software Industry 2006” report. Attendees will hear updates on vendors' licensing, pricing, and product strategies from InformationWeek Research editor Lisa Smith, as well as independent perspective on the financial health of the industry from CS First Boston software analyst Jason Maynard.