IT And the East: How China And India Are Altering the Future of Technology And Innovation (Gartner) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Partha Iyengar (Author)
Key Phrases: digital chasm, patent performance, captive centers, United States, Communist Party, Congress Party (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The center of gravity in the technology world has shifted east. Today, India and China are churning out some of the world's best-trained computer science and electrical engineering graduates. In both countries, consumer classes and domestic markets for technology have ballooned. Western high-tech firms are increasingly sourcing their products' assembly from India and China and the innovation that drives those products. Meanwhile, indigenous Indian and Chinese companies are creating intellectual property and innovations that will compete with those same Western companies. In "IT and the East", James M. Popkin and Partha Iyengar examine the vital questions these developments raise: What's the long-term impact of high-tech outsourcing? How will innovation be managed in the future? Can Western firms compete in Asian markets while protecting key intellectual property? Will the innovation engine inexorably shift east? What would such a shift mean for Western countries currently driving innovation? The authors also discuss the emerging alliances between Indian and Chinese technology companies and outline the implications for Western businesses. Filled with extensive interviews with high-level executives, government officials, and academics from around the world, "IT and the East" is the first book to articulate the challenges that new business scenarios and capabilities in India and China pose for Western technology firms.

From the Back Cover

The center of gravity in the technology world has shifted east. Today, China and India are producing some the world’s best-trained computer science and electrical engineering graduates. In each country, the consumer class and the domestic market for technology have ballooned. Western high-tech firms are increasingly sourcing their products’ assembly, and the innovation that drives those products, from China and India. Meanwhile, indigenous Chinese and Indian companies are creating intellectual property and innovations that will directly challenge those same Western companies.

In IT and the East, James M. Popkin and Partha Iyengar examine the vital questions these developments raise:

Can Western firms compete in Asian markets while protecting key intellectual property?

What’s the long term impact of high-tech outsourcing?

How will innovation be managed in the future?

Will the innovation engine inexorably shift east? What would such a shift mean for Western countries currently driving innovation?

The authors also discuss for emerging alliances between Chinese and Indian technology companies in specific market such as IT services, textile, pharmaceuticals, and automotive components. These alliances have inspired the idea of “Chindia”— a combined China and India competing globally. Popkin and Iyengar present a compelling Chindia as a means to explain how these two great countries might soon reassert their combines influences on the international stage. And they explore the major implications of this development for Western businesses as wide ranging as IBM, Motorola, Accenture, Sun Microsystems, and Google.

featuring extensive interviews with high-level executives, government officials, and academics from around the world, IT and the East is the first book to articulate the challenges that new business scenarios and capabilities in China and India pose for Western technology firms.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 226 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Press; 1 edition (April 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1422103145
• ISBN-13: 978-1422103142
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #742,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Replaces fear with facts on two critical world players, April 28, 2007

By	M. McDonald (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

IT in the East is the first comprehensive look at the economic forces and direction of China and India. The subject of much fear, uncertainty and doubt, Popkin and Iyengar take a systematic and fact filled look at the history, dynamics and direction of these two countries. The authors are to be applauded for addressing China and India separately and then together as each country has a long and unique history and tradition.

This book, while written about IT, should be read by business and IT leaders and strategists. This is not a redux of outsourcing or offshore development. Thankfully the authors have recognized that both India and China are complete economies with their own dynamics and direction. The book is filled with data points that back up the authors' assertions a welcome addition to the debate.

The book is divided into three main sections: the first dealing with India, the next with China, and the final one with the region. Each looks at providing frameworks and guidelines for executive decision makers all of whom have or will soon have to face decisions about these countries and their markets (both IT and consumer markets)

Popkin and Iyengar provide first hand accounts and policy recommendations that give the reader the background and depth to be well informed and well rounded. If you are a CIO or IT Strategist you will naturally want to read this book. However you will quickly discover that this is a book for your CEO, CFO and Corporate development executives. There is much hype and misinformation about India and China and give your execs this book to give them the best information to make the best decisions for IT and the entire company.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Interesting Material, August 13, 2007

By	Loyd E. Eskildson "Pragmatist" (Phoenix, AZ.) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

IT and the East" provides some interesting material; however, other books provide the same and more information in more interesting form - eg. "The Elephant and the Dragon," and "China Road." Further, it does not provide a very useful summary of the forces pushing Chinese leadership. Some of the more interesting material follows:

China and India are producing some of the world's best-trained computer science and EE graduates. More and more, Western high-tech firms are sourcing not just assembly of their products but also the innovation that drives those products. However, McKinsey also estimates that only 10% of Chinese engineering graduates could step immediately into global corporation positions - the rest need about 6 months training in disciplined thinking structure.

China and India accounted for about 75% of the world's GDP about 600 years ago, However, in 1450 China lost its lead when it abandoned its program of ocean-going treasure fleets because of a dispute at the Imperial Court. Now its banks have about $220-800 billion in bad loans (depending on the section in "IT and the East" that you read) in '06, while the U.S. government estimates 10% unemployment in urban areas, and cites a Chinese journal estimate of 20%.

Innovation is rapidly increasing in China. In 2006 it had 750 foreign-funded R&D centers. In 1980 China published only 924 papers listed in the Science Citation Index; by 200 the total was 22,000 - 9th of all nations.

As for India, IT services represent about 49% of India's total services exports ($25 billion in 2003-2004), and growing 36% a year; represents about 2/3 of the world's IT off shoring. It too has a problem with the quality of its graduates - only about 25% of its engineers are suitable for employment by multinational corporations. Licensing and other permits also take longer in India than the U.S. and China. Other major problems include poor infrastructure (utilities, roads), factional and religious animosities, criminals in government, disagreements over programs and investments offering benefits for low vs. high-income workers, and a large number of languages.

India received $5.5 billion in outside investment in '04-'05, vs. $153 billion in China during the same time period. Per capita GNP is about half that of China's.

The final section of "IT and the East" considers the possibilities for partnerships between China and India in the IT arena.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where the future of IT might lie..., March 6, 2007

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It won't come as any surprise to people in the IT industry that India and China are becoming major players on the world technology scene. IT And the East: How China And India Are Altering the Future of Technology And Innovation by James M. Popkin and Partha Iyengar examine each country's strengths and weaknesses, and ponders what a "Chindia" alliance would mean to the global IT market.

Contents:
Part 1 - China: China - Reality versus Perception; China's IT Landscape Today; Charting the Course for China to 2012
Part 2 - India: India - Reality versus Perception; India's IT Landscape Today; Charting the Course for India to 2012
Part 3 - Chindia: The Emerging Economy of Chindia; The Case for Chindia Bloc; Priorities Today for a Chindia Future
Appendix A - Scenario Milestones and Signposts for China; Appendix B - Scenario Milestones and Signposts for India; Notes; Index; About the Authors

Popkin and Iyengar are both Gartner analysts, so it's no surprise that this book reads like an extended Gartner-style report. Each section examines the past and present situation for both countries, followed by three different possibilities for the future. The course for 2012 chapter creates a four quadrant grid for each country, and places them where they currently exist. The three potential options for future events are then graphed out with timelines and events, along with Gartner's probability ranking for each. For India, the highest probability is one where infrastructure improvements occur, but the educational institutions remain the domain of the elite. Therefore, a large chasm will exist between the haves and the have nots. For China, it's much more difficult to predict the future due to the closed nature of their government system. It could be that China becomes a dynamic entrepreneurial force, or they could go back into a protectionist shell. The path that would benefit both would be to join forces and complement each others strengths and weaknesses. A Chindia bloc would bring heavy pressure on both the hardware and software markets, and it would be a difficult force to compete with based on manpower and costs.

If you're interested in the global IT trends and where they might head, this is definitely a book that would be of interest to you. It'd also be interesting to look back at this book in five years to see how things played out...