Beyond Borders

"Beyond Borders" editorial of the July 2002 IASA Supplement by Katherine Burger, Editorial Director.

Although there were some expectations that, after the 9/11 wakeup call, insurers and other financial institutions might reconsider the benefits of globalization—including operating in non-local markets, partnering with offshore firms on development and maintenance, affiliating with companies in other parts of the world—it appears that most organizations that have embarked on global initiatives are staying the course. However, they are pursuing their strategies with more attention than ever to costs, ROI and security.

To provide an update on some of the "do's and don'ts" of globalization, Insurance & Technology and Doculabs, a Chicago-based research and advisory firm, present "Profiting from a New Global Vision." This General Session Special Report, prepared exclusively for distribution at this year's IASA Annual Educational Conference & Business Show, offers recognition of the volunteers and board members who help make IASA successful. It also includes detailed information about this year's program.

The Special Report also provides expert analysis from Doculabs about the factors—management issues as well as technology—that go into building a secure global infrastructure (lessons that are relevant for domestic operations, too.) And, we profile Toronto-based Manulife, a tech-savvy organization that has grappled successfully with global challenges and opportunities for a century.

Also on the topic of using technology to migrate beyond traditional borders, Insurance & Technology, InSystems and META Group will announce the winner of the first Insurance Innovators Award—Aon's Technology & Telecommunications Group—here at the IASA show. Aon's Wired for Growth Web-enabled risk management offering exemplifies the innovative, competitive thinking the Insurance Innovators Award was created to recognize. Please stop by the InSystems booth (#500) on Tuesday, June 4, from11:45 am-12:15 pm, to help us recognize this exemplary use of technology to achieve business goals.

We hope this report enhances your show experience and expands your vision.

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio