| | May 201519CIOReviewI have been the VP and Corporate CIO at Carnival Corporation since 2013. Managing the IT organization and helping to steer our technology initiatives and investments within the organization has beenboth challenging, and fulfilling. Throughout my journey, I have had the great fortune to work with a talented team of professionals who not only challenge themselves, they challenge me to continue my pursuit of knowledge, and push myself beyond what I previously thought was possible.Although I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience throughout this journey, there are four key ideas which stand above my other lessons and takeaways; focusing on the customer, planning and anticipating change, persistence, and resilience.Those ideas, layered on the Three C's: communication, collaboration, and coordination, are what I use as my foundation blocks to building a culture which nourishes innovation and creativity.Foundation blocksIt is about the customer. If they are not enlightened, there is a good chance they won't remember your company when they need your product or service again. It is about exceeding their expectations in ways they cannot even imagine or describe in words. True innovation is not about asking what customers want. It is about anticipating their needs and fulfilling their desires before they were even thought of by them. Simplify processes and make it really, really easy to use products and services. And more importantly, create an emotional connection; something that the competition will not be able to quickly copy. It is not technology for technology sake, - it has to improve the customer's life,and make it more enjoyable. Plan for change.Do not underestimate how challenging it can be to change people's behavior. Many CIO INSIGHTFour Fundamental Lessons for Building a Culture of Innovation and SuccessBy Walter Carvalho, VP & Corporate CIO, Carnival Corporation
< Page 9 | Page 11 >