It is always a treat to catch up with Robert (Bob) Keefe. This gentleman always appears to be quietly moving forward with purpose and clarity. While still holding his cards close, he clearly indicated that positive momentum is in play at Mueller Water Products. I could almost hear him grin when he said they are “planning to move ahead on several IT projects this year”.

Keefe has long had active involvement with the Society of Information Management (SIM) and he seemed pleased with the progress made at their recent Advance Practices Council meeting. Representatives from all around the nation participated in planning unique research projects which can be helpful to SIM members everywhere.

Although there remain a lot of new innovative ideas to consider, Keefe is not dwelling on any single emerging technology. He does not see one technology which he believes will rock the IT boat in the near future. He does, however, see SAS offerings to be of ever-increasing interest and he said it's time to acknowledge SAS as a "game changer". "They are causing companies to look at software decisions in a completely new light. Try-before-you-buy and pay-as-you-go are conditions that fit well with the conservative preferences that recessions tend to spawn."

As for where he sees the emphasis today relative to cost-cutting versus investments in growth, Keefe says 2010 might turn out to be a transitional year. "Creating efficiencies will always be at the core of IT, but recently I am hearing peers talk more about corporate growth projects. Maybe some of those long delayed growth projects are actually going to make a move in 2010."