Call for developing analytical frame of mind

Chennai, Apr 25 (UNI) Cognizant Vice-Chairman and NASSCOM Chairman T Lakshminarayanan today exhorted the students to develop an analytical frame of mind and strengthen the fundamentals in domain areas to enter the high growth information and communication technologies sector.

Addressing the valedictory function of the Business Line Club of the SRM School of Management, SRM University at suburban Kattankulathur here, he said technology or business skills were something that ''we can train you in.'' ''But the education that you gain should provide you with strong fundamentals. The ability to raise questions and analyse data given to students'', he added.

Stating that the IT industry was looking for people with the ability to work as a team, he said none of the problems faced in business could be solved by an individual.

''We look for people who can set aside their ego and put 'we' and 'us' before everything else and work in a team.'' The industry was also looking for people with the ability to learn new things rapidly, because in the competitive and high growth era, such people would be needed for the industry to stay ahead of the rest, he added.

Mr Lakshmi Narayanan, who took over as NASSCOM Chairman recently, said compared to many other industries, including the fast moving consumer goods sector, the IT sector was growing at a much faster pace of 35 to 40 per cent per year.

The reason was that generally industries, the government and businesses have understood that investing technology was providing the key to growth.

Another reason for the high growth was convergence. ''Today dissemination of information and knowledge was much faster and because of the concept of anywhere, anytime knowledge was a possibility providing for faster learning'', he added.

He said the present growth rates were sustainable not only in the short and medium term but also in the long run as the IT Industry had only entered the growth period.

UNI