The project is co-led by Professor Toshio Obi of Waseda University and James Kang, the CIO of Singapore and includes participation by fourteen APEC economies.   The project team includes J.P. Auffret, Director of the Mason M.S. in Technology Management Program.

The project extension will focus on developing a test bed to facilitate the commercialization of ICT applications for the elderly in rapidly aging societies including for Japan and Singapore.

The outcome of the first stage included review of similarities and differences amongst economies and countries of the challenges and opportunities of aging societies including the challenges of healthcare, pensions and labor – and the opportunities that IT and technology provide for addressing these challenges.    A second outcome was exchange of best practices on ways to foster IT innovation related to aging society including for smart communities, robotics and smart homes.

As part of the first stage, back to back APECTEL and OECD workshops were held in Tokyo in September 2012.  These workshops had 450 participants from 43 countries and economies.   Professor Obi and J.P. Auffret are coediting a book based on the papers and presentations from the workshops to be published by IOS Press in the fall of this year.

Gain “must-have” CIO competencies
“When we think about leading in the technology arena, we tend to think about the operations side of the job—managing projects, providing systems to areas like finance and budgeting, maximizing resources.  These are all important.  But there’s another set of abilities and competencies that are just as critical — if not more important– to the effective CIO.

To help their organization achieve its strategic goals, CIO’s need to become skillful on both the hard and soft sides of the IT equation:

• ·         Building relationships—helping executives understand the opportunities that IT can create  and facilitate
• ·         Learning to listen – so that we can better target our IT objectives and as a result engage users more effectively
• ·         Negotiating skills—helpful in selling ideas and implementing the ever-present change that is part of IT progress

For me, and for my fellow students, earning the U.S. government CIO certification that is part of Mason’s masters of technology management was a sure path to developing this dual knowledge.  We learned to achieve business needs within a context of communicating and responding effectively.    The twelve CIO Council Core Competencies that are incorporated into the Mason curriculum -– ranging from leadership to IT policy to cybersecurity- – combined with our work experience to provide a good foundation.

This breadth of capabilities really comes into play as CIO’s take on more influence as Chief Innovation Officers.  Today, we’re often charged with generating the ideas and translating them into workable technical solutions.  To do this, we need to foster open environments that encourage thought and allow people to take calculated risks, and, yes, to make mistakes.  In the end, the teams we create are more productive and we all learn more.”

Among the innovations at the top of Falahyar’s list since his arrival at the Corcoran:  Moving the Gallery’s legacy systems to the cloud, exploring mobile apps that will bring the Corcoran’s collections to students from kindergarten through high school and enhancing Corcoran’s e-commerce capability so that alumni can offer their artwork worldwide.

ITU is looking for the next generation of social technopreneurs—young people aged between 18 and 26 with an inspirational information and communication technologies-based solution to developmental challenges.

Ten winning finalists will be selected to attend ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok, taking part in workshops, pitching sessions, mentoring and networking, plus receiving seed funding of up to USD $10,000 per project.

Your idea could be a start-up already up and running but in need of funding to implement the next stage and bring it to scale. Or it could be a concept worked out on paper but in need of support to make it real.

ITU is looking for innovative solutions which can really make an impact on the world and improve people’s lives by using connected technologies (ICTs) to address one of Six Grand Challenges:

• Improve employment opportunities for young people and migrant workers
• Reduce food and water wastage at individual and retail level
• Facilitate access to public services for the elderly
• Improve natural disaster prediction and response
• Improve road safety for both drivers and pedestrians
• Protect sensitive personal data and inspire the creation of local digital content

Deadline for applications: June 30th, 2013

For details on how to enter the competition, visit world2013.itu.int/event/innovation/.

How Do You Become CIO? Insights From Outgoing NASA CIO Linda Cureton

December 5, 2013

Eddie Schwartz, Master of Science in Technology Management Class of 2006, has been honored by Computerworld magazine as a Top 100 Premiere IT Leader for 2013.  Schwartz is Chief Information Security Officer at RSA, The Security Division of EMC® Corporation (EMC).

“The Premier 100 awards program showcases the exceptional work of a dedicated group of senior IT leaders who are driving huge change in their organizations,” said Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. “Every day, these exemplary business leaders make strategic technology decisions that track to their organizations’ top priorities. These men and women keep a keen eye on the changing landscape of political, economic, regulatory and technology trends that are driving significant shifts in IT. We are very pleased to recognize the leadership and achievements of the 2013 Premier 100 honorees.”

As co-founder and CSO of NetWitness*, Schwartz has established a reputation as a transformational thinker in information security. Since becoming RSA’s first Chief Information Security Officer, he has successfully helped enhance the firm’s own internal security, worked to restore trust in the EMC brand after a hostile intrusion and moved the corporation into an even stronger position to help clients around the world counter increasingly aggressive and persistent cyber threats. Eddie has traveled the globe sharing his game-shifting security message:

• With increasing cybersecurity threats, organizations need to have a central focus on their cybersecurity adversaries and their motivations, objectives and capabilities. By then prioritizing the value of information assets and the potential effects of compromise, organizations are better able to stay ahead of advanced threats. Fueled by Big Data analytics and shared threat analysis from disparate sources, this approach, Schwartz preaches, improves decision-making, reduces risk, and speeds response in protecting mission-critical capabilities. This strategy also allows the security team to speak the language of business—something it is often said not to do–by describing cybersecurity in terms of organizational strategy and operations.

• Protection of valuable assets cannot rely on defense alone. Collaboration within and among organizations is key to minimizing persistent threat. Eddie has been a leading proponent of openly sharing and benchmarking security frameworks — collaborations that result in a formidable network against adversarial intrusion.

Schwartz’ message has begun to resonate with corporate executives and government leaders around the world. It is changing the global conversation on information security. And it is from this conversation that the next generation of mature cyber intelligence strategy will be formulated.

Read more about Eddie Schwartz and the Computerworld Premiere 100: http://www.idgenterprise.com/press/computerworld-celebrates-it-leadership-achievement-with-2013-premier-100-awards

 Fairfax, VA  – The Capital Technology Management Hub (CTMH) will host its Fourth Annual Technology Startup Challenge on Tuesday evening, November 13 at the Mason Inn on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.

In the past three years, more than 20 aspiring entrepreneurs and startup companies have taken advantage of this opportunity to present their business plans to a panel of local business executives and venture capitalists.  Past competition winners have included the first online auction site for high-end designer wedding dresses and accessories and an innovative cell phone-based taxi request service.  Several competition participants have received venture capital commitments as a result of their Startup Challenge participation.

CTMH invites startup entrepreneurs to enter the competition by submitting a one page executive summary by October 26^th and a simplified business plan (no more than 4 pages) by November 2^nd.  Entries should be submitted to jimlockett@captechmanhub.org. Startups that are currently operational will be given preference in judging. Prizes will be awarded to winners of the competition.  Presentations will be approximately 15 minutes long.

The event will follow the successful audience participation format used over the past three years with the winners chosen by the audience via real time text messaging.  To register to attend the Challenge, visit the CTMH website at http://capitaltechnologymanagementhub.org/.

The 2012 CTMH Startup Challenge will begin at 6 p.m. at the  the Mason Inn Conference Center, 4352 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.   Presentations will begin at 7 p.m.

The Capitol Technology Management Hub is a leading networking organization for technology management professionals in the Washington metro area. The group provides a forum where professionals can effectively network, learn, recruit and search for new career opportunities. Technology management professionals and associates are either decision-makers and/or decision-influencers in leading companies. CTMH provides a forum where they can gather and share information on a regular basis.  The group meets the second Tuesday of every month.  More information and details for the location of meetings can be found at http://capitaltechnologymanagementhub.org

 The Startup Challenge is sponsored by George Mason University, School of Management Technology Management Program. http://som.gmu.edu/masters-in-technology-management/

 Contact: Jim Lockett  jimlockett@captechmanhub.org