A surge of innovation is transforming Canadian business and society as organizations achieve leadership in their sectors by applying IT in groundbreaking new ways, according to an industry association.
The Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA) announced a strong group of award finalists, revealing advances in productivity and efficiency across Canada's economy.
"Canada is a growing hub for innovation," said CIPA president and CEO Norm Kirkpatrick. "These entries reveal a textbook of information on how the adoption of IT strategies leads to much stronger, globally competitive organizations in both the private and public sectors."
Doug McCuaig, senior vice-president and GM, Greater Toronto Area and Atlantic Canada for CGI, urged Canadian senior executives to take note of the solutions to be revealed at the Gala Banquet and emulate the management strategies that created them.
"In this competitive global environment Canadian organizations need to focus on building innovation and increasing productivity," McCuaig said. "Becoming a CIPA finalist is a demonstration of what can be done with vision and determination."
McCuaig said that Canadian business must be aware of the dangers of losing ground in areas critical for international competitiveness.
The Conference Board of Canada stated in its latest Performance and Potential report that Canadian economic performance fell to12th among industrial countries in 2005, down from third place just two years ago, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has pegged Canada's productivity growth at 18th among 24 countries.
"We must celebrate the achievements of those organizations that contradict (the report's) findings so that we can inspire others to emulate their performance," McCuaig said. "This will contribute to building a culture of innovation and competitiveness in Canada that will ensure our continued economic prosperity."
Finalists were selected from more than 200 entries submitted from every region of Canada by organizations of all types and sizes.
Winners will be selected for awards in four categories: efficiency and operational improvements; customer care; organizational transformation and exceptional innovation.
CIPA will announce its selection of 2006 award winners from the finalists at the CIPA Gala Banquet on November 1, 2006.
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