Modernizing technologies are not enough for CIOs to succeed; it is time for IT leaders to re-imagine IT, according to Gartner, Inc. This is the era of mass collaboration driven by the consumerization of IT. For an IT leader to thrive in this environment, they must re-imagine their role, and they must lead from the front.

During the opening keynote today at Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, being held here through October 20, Gartner analysts told an audience of 8,500 CIOs and IT leaders there are three initiatives to implement to re-imagine IT: post-modern business, simplicity, and creative destruction.

“IT leaders must embrace the post-modern business, a business driven by customer relationships where the customer is everywhere, and so must your business; a world fuelled by the explosion in information, collaboration, and mobility, enabled by the cloud,” said Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president at Gartner and global head of Research. “You must pursue simplicity by putting people and their needs at the center of design. You must dare to employ creative destruction to eliminate legacy, and selectively destroy low impact systems.”

Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced), a leading integrated business applications and services software provider, has teamed-up with resource management development company, RealFlair, to launch Workforce Optimisation on stand HR310 at the Softworld HR and Payroll Solutions Exhibition (18-19 October 2011, ExCeL, London). Workforce Optimisation is the latest addition to Advanced’s human resource (HR) and payroll solutions portfolio. Advanced is also previewing its new HR mobile functionality at the show and hosting a seminar, ‘Demonstrating the ROI from HR’ on the solutions stage (13.30 on 18 October and 11.30 on 19 October).

Workforce Optimisation is a flexible web-based rostering solution that is ideal for businesses with complex staff rostering needs, such as care homes, airports, travel operators and retail organisations. The solution enhances Advanced’s current HR portfolio by providing a comprehensive staff roster at the touch of a button, reducing the time, frustration and costs associated with traditional staff scheduling methods. The solution also matches available staff resources to business demand, further cutting labour costs.