[26 November 2003]
IBM Business Consulting Services Solution Center established at the Singapore Management University to offer business consulting and implementation expertise

IBM’s first regional Solution Center provides an unbiased platform to design, build and run technology solutions

Singapore, November 26, 2003 …. IBM and Singapore Management University (SMU) today jointly announced the establishment of the IBM Business Consulting Services Solution Center at the SMU’s School of Information Systems. This Solution Center will provide SMU students with insights on how industry specific business processes and enabling software applications come together. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to develop solution proof-of-concepts and have access to real-world case studies.

This partnership will give students access to “living cases” that they can incorporate into their courses, projects and internships At the Center, the students can experiment with information systems design and solution concepts in the context of real-world industry sector scenarios, building their knowledge of both the technology and business processes.

The Solution Center is part of a strategic partnership between the Singapore Management University and IBM Singapore that will substantially enhance the education and research capabilities of SMU's School of Information Systems.

As part of SMU’s aim to cultivate outstanding business leaders and creative entrepreneurs who will excel in the rapidly changing and evolving economy, the university launched the School of Information Systems (SIS) early this year. The SIS aspires to make significant contributions to business process innovation through the architecture, design and deployment of information systems in enterprise settings.

“IBM Business Consulting Services is an ideal strategic partner for SIS based on shared and synergistic values. Both organizations strive to excel at integrating a deep understanding of business needs with enabling information systems solutions. Both organizations also incorporate global best practices and cutting-edge new knowledge into our respective efforts,” said Practice Professor Steven Miller, Dean, School of Information Systems, SMU.

SIS courses, projects and internships can leverage the Solution Center as an innovative and relevant “laboratory for learning“. The Center is also a place where IBM Business Consulting Services business solution concepts can be refined and demonstrated. It will serve as the back-end solution design and developing centre for housing the various software, hardware and third party commercial applications. IBM Business Consulting Services business thought leaders and IT teams will also be able to informally exchange ideas with renowned faculty at SIS and the other schools of Business, Accountancy and Economics at SMU.

Krishna Giri, Public Sector and Supply Chain Leader, ASEAN/South Asia, IBM Business Consulting Services, said, “This partnership is significant as it showcases the marriage of global best practices, real world solutions and leverage IBM’s innovative heritage, deep research capabilities and thought leadership. SMU students and faculty can benefit and draw from such resources.”

“Today’s businesses face intensely challenging conditions. As such, companies are focusing on obtaining more productivity from their IT resources. Technology can make businesses more efficient and productive and stay one step ahead of the game. IBM Business Consulting Services delivers this fusion of technology and business insight and this is what gives our customers their competitive advantage today. The Solution Center is a venue where technology solutions can be tested, to minimize and reduce investment risk of clients,” said Lam Wei Choong, General Manager, ASEAN/SA, IBM Business Consulting Services.

Through this relationship, SIS faculty, staff and students will have full access to a number of leading commercial software solutions for:
- Supply chain management and procurement
- Customer relationship management
- Data management and business intelligence
- Business integration and process management
- Banking and financial service solutions