Strategies and Frameworks: Nurturing an Innovation Ecosystem at NTT DATA
CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Partha Deka, Senior Vice President, NTT DATA
1) How are innovation and growth linked to each other?
Innovation and growth share a symbiotic relationship, particularly within our strategic framework. Our holistic approach to talent, technology, and employee trust nurtures a united culture of innovation. While technology and research are at the core of innovation, collaboration always precedes the true application of innovative ideas.
Beyond NTT DATA, the broader correlation lies in innovation driving market competitiveness, opening new avenues, and enhancing operational efficiency, all contributing factors to organizational and industry-wide growth. Essentially, we believe that innovation acts as the cornerstone, propelling both individual companies and the broader industry forward.
2) You have spoken about Calculus of Innovation. What does it mean and what should businesses be doing to ensure that innovation is a continuous focus.
The Calculus of Innovation at NTT DATA is the formula for sustained business growth, intertwining knowledge, applied innovation, productivity, and overall organizational development. It emphasizes continuous investment in innovation, as seen in the success of our Global Innovation Challenge. Key insights from the challenge include proactive innovation for evolving customer needs, ensuring a healthy equilibrium between innovation and operational efficiency, recognizing the interconnectedness of efficiency and effectiveness, making innovation a catalyst for operational improvements, and acknowledging that innovation is a collective goal involving the entire organization. As we advance to the next stage of the Global Ideation Challenge, exploring ideas from Generative AI to Automation and Green Goals, we remain committed to our goal of further innovation.
To maintain a continuous focus on innovation, businesses should foster a culture of creativity, invest in R&D talent and resources, encourage cross-functional collaboration, implement structured innovation programs, embrace flexibility, listen to customer feedback, and measure and celebrate success. These strategies ensure that innovation becomes an integral and ongoing part of organizational growth and success.
3) Could you give a little background about Global Innovation Challenge and what makes it different from the other programs that are there in the industry.
The Global Innovation Challenge is a distinctive initiative at NTT DATA, setting it apart from other industry programs. With a business presence in over 45 countries and a diverse customer base, the primary objective of the challenge is to find innovative solutions to real problems faced by our customers. In contrast to other similar programs, this international contest invites minds from around the world to devise previously unexplored solutions and revolutionize problem-solving approaches.
The unique aspect lies in fostering ‘open’ innovation, aiming for a ‘win-win’ situation. At NTT DATA, we believe that collaboration with technology partners, including start-ups often overlooked for opportunities, is integral to creating new businesses.
The program consisted of 26 categories, with Generative AI leading in participation, closely followed by Automation, Productivity Accelerator, Digital Transformation, Revenue Generation and Sustainability. This diversity of categories underscores the broad spectrum of innovative ideas and solutions that the challenge attracts from across the globe.
The program witnessed participation from various countries, with India securing the top spot in idea submissions at almost 50%. Other actively participating nations include the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, Ireland, among others.
4) Please share some examples of unique ideas that caught the attention of the jury in the Global Innovation Challenge.
In the Global Innovation Challenge, Generative AI emerged as a standout category, reflecting the growing importance of applied innovation. The challenge originated from the understanding that continuous innovation is crucial for sustained growth, aligning with the Calculus of Innovation. The selection criteria considered futuristic and original ideas with a strong technological component, emphasizing substantial productivity improvement, a feasible 3-4 months implementation timeline, and suitability for implementation within NTT DATA’s context. Evaluating 530 ideas from 13 countries, it was evident that global customer needs are ever evolving. The focus on innovation balancing productivity and enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in meeting client expectations was also evident.
5) There are lot of conversations around Generative AI, Responsible AI and others. What is your take on AI and is there a potential threat that businesses should be careful of in the future?
Generative AI has ushered in a new era by democratically extending access to AI capabilities across businesses and individuals, akin to the transformative impact of browsers on internet accessibility. While this widespread adoption is propelling innovation, it simultaneously presents challenges in areas such as copyright, privacy, ethics, security, and biases.
At NTT DATA, we recognize the need to address these challenges. Accordingly, we have prioritized governance policies centered around information security, privacy, and compliance. Our commitment to responsible AI is evident in the frameworks guiding applications like image recognition, ensuring ethical and secure use.
Rapid AI adoption has outpaced regulatory frameworks, calling for a delicate balance between fostering innovation and safeguarding against potential misuse. Ethical considerations take precedence, and collaboration between businesses and international governments is crucial to defining regulations that promote responsible AI use. NTT Data is actively engaged in this ongoing dialogue, contributing to shaping regulations that maximize AI’s potential while upholding ethical standards and societal well-being.
6) How do NTT DATA Innovation Centers, particularly those in India, collaborate to foster co-creation and research and development for emerging technologies? What are some notable achievements or projects that have come out of these centers?
At NTT DATA, our Innovation Centers, especially those in India, serve as vibrant hubs where collaboration, co-creation, and cutting-edge research and development converge to drive innovation. These centers play a pivotal role in harnessing emerging technologies and transforming ideas into impactful solutions.
Our collaborative approach is built on the foundation of diversity and expertise. Cross-functional teams, consisting of experts from various domains, work in synergy to co-create solutions that address real-world challenges. This collaborative environment not only fosters creativity but also ensures that our solutions are comprehensive and adaptable.
Research and development are at the core of our Innovation Centers. We invest in exploring emerging technologies, understanding their potential applications, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. This commitment to R&D allows us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and the industry.
7) What specific strategies or frameworks does NTT DATA employ to nurture an environment conducive to innovation within its organization?
We prioritize fostering innovation to enhance Employee Experience (EX), adapting to the evolving work landscape with a focus on flexibility. Embracing AI, Machine Learning, and bots, our Global Employee Experience Report 2023 highlights their pivotal role in transforming EX strategies, particularly in automation. Innovative technologies support flexibility in remote or hybrid setups, and continuous upgrades to cloud-based solutions enhance EX by facilitating seamless communication. Our Continuous Performance Management model addresses skill uncertainties, fostering skill expansion. Empowering employees through a democratic decision-making process and inclusive planning ensures a sense of belonging, contributing to positive EX. Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we create a congenial workplace where all employees feel comfortable. In a nutshell, our strategies are not only responsive to the current needs of our workforce but are also forward-looking, ensuring a workplace that is conducive to holistic personal and professional growth.
