In an exclusive interview, Eng Chew said his "biggest challenge" since his appointment about six months ago was recovering a positive vibe after the company slashed half its IT headcount under last year's restructuring.
"I guess the key challenge is [that] I need to align all the people in the same direction, the same objectives with the same culture, so they pull together as a team," Chew said. "[I] have to make the restructure work".
Staff cutbacks at the telco have left Chew with an IT headcount of 330 plus contractors. Optus' cost-cutting plans aimed to take out AU$75-$100 million by the end of the telecommunications company's 2002/03 financial year, according to a statement issued by the telco last year.
However, his work on rationalising IT costs is by no means finished. Another key task is reduce costs "significantly"--he declines to say precisely how much--to match industry best practice. His target areas include rationalising spending with vendors, improving work practices and eliminating duplication.
This program is coupled with systems to ensure information technology is fully aligned with the telecommunications company's business strategy. "The end goal of information technology is to help the business make money and be profitable," he said.
Chew also revealed that keeping an eye on emerging technologies was on his agenda. Rather than pointing to particular technology areas, Chew said that he viewed technology as a tool, and assessed new technologies based on whether or not they could match business expectations and requirements.
Chew is well qualified to deal with the technology and business issues affecting the carrier. Prior to becoming CIO, Chew had been with the telco for about six years, the past two of which he spent working in its mobile division where he was responsible for its business improvement program looking at process re-engineering.
