MIS 100 2007(81-100)

By CIO Staff | Monday, March 31 2008

The 2007 edition of the definitive guide to New Zealand's largest IT organisations is now online.

* Click on the triangle symbols to reveal the information for each organisation.

81 Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

2006 ranking: 93

Senior IS executive: Allan Sainsbury, director of ICT
Reports to: Peter Hamilton, deputy secretary, corporate services
Size of IS shop: 52

PCs: 1555
Mobile PCs: 220
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 0
Total screens: 1775

Industry: Government and defence
PC environment: Windows XP, HP, Lenovo
Server environment: Windows 2003, Linux
DBMS: Microsoft Access, Oracle, SQL, SharePoint
Address: 195 Lambton Quay Wellington
Website: www.mfat.govt.nz
Key IS projects this year: Upgrade to HR system; consular management system; knowledge management.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is implementing an ICT strategy and technology refresh to standardise its ICT environment and improve capabilities to share information globally. “A global business environment is always different to a national environment and it’s important to not lose sight of the fact you are delivering IT service and solutions for a global organisation with global needs,” says Allan Sainsbury, director of ICT.
MFAT ICT employees must be NZ citizens for security reasons, so attracting and retaining skilled staff in a tight employment market is a major concern. “We have to complete on the open employment market and also choose whether we meet the demands of the open market or train people up internally with the risk that they will be released back to the market again,” says Sainsbury.
Key IT projects for the next 12 months include business intelligence system planning, server virtualisation and planned VoIP and wireless networks.
82 New Zealand Fire Service

2006 ranking: 80

Senior IS executives: Ian Scott, IT services manager and Chris Juriss, manager IT Strategy
Report to: Chief financial officer
Size of IS shop: 12

PCs: 846
Mobile PCs: 180
Terminals: 500
Hand-held devices: 60
Total screens: 1586

Industry: Health and Community Services
PC environment: Windows 2000, XP; Acer; HP; Toshiba
Server environment: Windows 2003, HP
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: Level 9, 80 The Terrace, Wellington
Website: www.fire.org.nz
Key IS projects this year: Emergency response technology; mobile computing; knowledge management; business and operational support systems.

This year, the New Zealand Fire Service will embark on a significant enterprise architecture project around how ICT can best support the organisation. Specifically, mobile computing is being investigated for the benefits it may provide. Examples include making vehicles mobile command centres and enabling field-based data capture. Other areas of focus include a new knowledge management strategy and improvements to radio and voice emergency response communications, and business and operational support systems.
IT strategy manager Chris Juriss says national telecommunications pricing is important for an organisation located throughout the country and the Service would like to see telecommunications legislation result in lower prices, good coverage and adequate broadband performance.
Server virtualisation is also on the agenda and a new knowledge management strategy will address compliance with the recently introduced Public Records Act.
83 Manukau City Council

2006 ranking: 78

Senior IS executive: Colin Smith, CIO
Reports to: Director organisational performance
Size of IS shop: 78

PCs: 1374
Mobile PCs: 219
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 100
Total screens: 1693

Industry: Government and defence
PC environment: Windows XP, HP, Toshiba
Server environment: Windows 2000, 2003; HP; Solaris
DBMS: SQL, Universe (Informix), Teradata
Address: 31-33 Wiri Station Road, Manukau City, Auckland
Website: www.manukau.govt.nz
Key IS projects this year: Voice and data infrastructure refresh; online services provision; rationalisation of the application portfolio.

The Manukau City Council (MCC) is committed to using advanced IT systems to help build the foundation for a ‘knowledge-led council’ and achieve the goals of ‘Tomorrow’s Manukau’ – a 10-year vision and strategy.
“Sound IT infrastructure and good information underpin the operational capabilities of Council and the services provided to the Manukau community,” says CIO Colin Smith. Effective IT solutions, he adds, are key to ensuring easy access to Council services and information.
He says councils work to ten-year Long Term Council Community Plans which act as the business plan for managing the city. A key goal for Manukau City is sustaining the enormous development experienced during the past 40 years, and planning for the next decade or more.
Smith says new IT projects for 2007 include investment in wireless and VoIP technologies, and in CRM systems and strategy. Other areas of focus include ongoing server virtualisation and investment in e-business and knowledge management technologies and systems.
84 Television New Zealand

2006 ranking: 75

Senior IS executive: Chris O’Donoghue, technology manager - innovation
Reports to: CFO
Size of IS shop: 98

PCs: 1400
Mobile PCs: 200
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 0
Total screens: 1600

Industry: Information
PC environment: Windows 2000, XP; Compaq; HP; Toshiba
Server environment: Linux; Windows 2000, 2003, NT; HP; Sun
DBMS: Ingres, Oracle, SQL
Address: 100 Victoria Street West, Auckland
Website: www.tvnz.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Sales system replacement; news system upgrade; on demand online TV, server virtualisation.


TVNZ intends to deliver strong growth in the online and mobile space this year and beyond. “IT sits at the heart of the media revolution, both in emerging business channels such as online as well as in the core of video processing,” says Chris O’Donoghue, technology manager, innovation. “IT systems are needed to manage and store content as well as deliver it to audiences and TVNZ plans to develop them.”
The station will be rebuilt to be server and hard disk drive-based rather than tape-based, which will assist with the storage of large video files. A redevelopment of the station’s ‘playout’ system which creates live breaks and crosses to different events will create flexiblity, allowing journalists to edit stories quickly and on location. Projects this year include server virtualisation and development of new systems for news, advertising and delivery of online television content.
He says it is important that new media systems allow TVNZ to react quickly to new platforms and partnerships and deliver appropriate content without high staff cost overheads.
85 Bay of Plenty District Health Board

2006 Ranking: 87

Senior IS executive: Owen Wallace, GM information management services
Reports to: Chief executive officer
Size of IS shop: 21

PCs: 1180
Mobile PCs: 120
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 30
Total screens: 1330

Industry: Health and community services
PC environment: Windows 2000, XP; HP/Compaq
Server environment: HP Unix, Windows 2000, IBM
DBMS: Informix, Oracle, SQL
Address: Corner Clark Street and 20th Avenue, Tauranga
Website: www.bopdhb.govt.nz
Key IS projects this year: Patient administration system upgrade; picture archive and communication system; core network upgrade; archiving and storage management.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board is moving away from departmental and transactional focused systems of the ‘80s and ‘90s and towards patient and healthcare provider facing systems such as clinical intranets. “Our goal is for health providers to see a lot of information about one patient in one screen. We are also moving towards more web-facing applications and want to share information more,” says Owen Wallace, general manager information management services.
The DHB is working with the Waikato DHB on a picture archive and communication system and on several projects with the Midland DHB.
“Advances in health care together with an aging population mean we have increasing numbers of people to service and keep track of whilst staying within our means. Our statutory obligations can be challenging,” says Wallace.
The DHB also uses its own wireless network to cost-effectively connect a number of sites at around 56Mbps.
86 Southern Cross Health Care

2006 Ranking: 97


Senior IS executive: April Walker, GM information systems
Reports to: Chief operating officer, insurance operations
Size of IS shop: 50

PCs: 447
Mobile PCs: 90
Terminals: 835
Hand-held devices: 37
Total screens: 1409

Industry: Health and community services
PC environment: Windows XP, HP
Server environment: Windows 2003, Linux, HP, Sun
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: 181 Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland
Website: www.southerncross.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Redevelopment of affiliated provider system; VoIP; CRM.


Intelligent use of IT is critical to the cost effectiveness and growth of Southern Cross’ health insurance organisation, says April Walker, general manager information systems.
Walker says key business objectives for the not for profit society in 2007 are to reduce administrative costs through self-service and business process automation and reducing claims cost escalation. IT will help achieve these objectives through new product development and implementation of self service initiatives. Mobile technologies will also be investigated to determine the business advantages of remote access for the sales force and the use of mobile corporate connection tools.
Southern Cross will continue to explore a services oriented architecture approach to IT systems, migrating inward-facing legacy applications to customer facing, self-service based architecture. The organisation will also review existing telephony systems infrastructure and remote access requirements, and evaluate the benefits of IP and wireless technologies.
87 House of Travel

2006 ranking: 83

Senior IS executive: Lisa Miles-Heal, IT director
Reports to: Group director, business strategy and solutions
Size of IS shop: 37

PCs: 1056
Mobile PCs: 110
Terminals: 170
Hand-held devices: 20
Total screens: 1356

Industry: Business management and scientific services
PC environment: Windows XP, HP, Dell
Server environment: Windows 2003, 2000; HP
DBMS: SQL Server 2000
Address: 210 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch
Website: www.houseoftravel.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: WAN upgrade; e-commerce enhancements; booking systems analysis.

House of Travel is an online agency integrated with a chain of ‘bricks and mortar’ outlets. A key challenge is competing in an environment where customers can bypass traditional services to access suppliers online. “There is a lot of travel insight and information not available online so competing in travel today means being able to add value and be relevant for today’s customers,” says IT director Lisa Miles-Heal. Thus, CRM business strategies and tools are business critical, and customer and business intelligence gleaned from these tools can be leveraged to create tailored travel packages with a difference.
The business is also dealing with exponential growth in online travel sales. The online market is low margin, high volume and very susceptible to changes. “We need to ensure that we are moving with customers and we accept that the internet is a valid part of travel purchasing process.”
88 New Zealand Steel

2006 Ranking: 86


Senior IS executive: Murray Lye, manager information systems
Reports to: Vice president finance
Size of IS shop: 54

PCs: 1125
Mobile PCs: 203
Terminals: 16
Hand-held devices: 28
Total screens: 1372

Industry: Manufacturing
PC environment: Windows XP, Dell
Server environment: MCP, Netware, Red Hat Linux, Windows 2003, HP, Sun, IBM
DBMS: Access, DMS, Oracle, SQL
Address: Mission Bush Road, Glenbrook, Auckland
Website: www.nzsteel.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: System upgrade replacements; planning and scheduling; control system upgrades; VoIP for Glenbrook and three smaller satellite sites.

Controlling costs whilst achieving business targets around production, quality, costs, and market share are high on the agenda for New Zealand Steel. IS manager Murray Lye says there is a need to provide the business with timely accurate information coupled with reliable and effective computing business systems.
Lye says mobile and wireless technologies are important and onsite shift team leaders stay in contact via cellular mobile technologies and radios. Use of smart phones and Blackberrys is starting to “fly” as more staff want to work off site. However, Lye says use of Blackberries will be phased out over time as having two mobile email platforms “doesn’t make sense” and devices using the Windows operating system are preferred. NZ Steel is also getting into a position to take advantage of wifi.
New Zealand Steel uses web technologies to give customers the ability to directly place and monitor orders, and has a B2B system that links with customer and suppliers' systems.
89 Freightways

2006 ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: Richard Mitchell-Lowe, general manager information services
Reports to: Dean Bracewell, managing director
Size of IS shop: 18

PCs: 940
Mobile PCs: 70
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 550
Total screens: 1560

Industry: Transport and warehousing
PC environment: Windows XP, HP
Server environment: HP Unix, Windows 2003, RedHat Linux
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: Freightways House, 32 Botha Road, Auckland
Website: www.freightways.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Not disclosed.


Freightways is a leading provider of express package services throughout New Zealand with complementary businesses servicing the business mail and information management sectors. It is currently developing a presence in the Australian information management market having recently acquired the technology services company DataBank Technologies.
Richard Mitchell-Lowe, general manager information services, says Freightways depends on IT to process high volumes of business transactions throughout its branch network and maintains a consistent focus on efficiency and customer service improvements through an appropriate mix of operational and technology initiatives the most recent of which involves the introduction of a mobile data solution in its express package operations. This leverages Freightways’ core IT infrastructure which is based on Hewlett Packard, Oracle and Microsoft .NET technologies.
90 Kristin School

2006 ranking: 90

Senior IS executive: Jason MacDonald, director ICT services
Reports to: Peter Clague, executive principal
Size of IS shop: 11

PCs: 409
Mobile PCs: 1094
Terminals: 36
Hand-held devices: 9
Total screens: 1548

Industry: Education services
PC environment: Windows XP, IBM, Lenovo
Server environment: Linux; Windows 2000, 2003; IBM
DBMS: MySQL, SQL
Address: 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland
Website: www.kristin.school.nz
Key IS projects this year: Server virtualisation and storage increases; specialised software licensing; hardware refresh.

The ongoing goal of Kristin School is to ensure it has superior facilities to meet student learning and development needs. Jason MacDonald, director ICT services, says investment in infrastructure and ICT services include new buildings, VoIP and wifi technologies, and continued development of learning and course management systems. The delivery of rich content including video and voice across wired and wireless data networks is also being extended.
Student home access to fast wired and wireless broadband services is a significant challenge, he says. “So we are doing something about it. We are a founding member of the North Shore Education Access Loop (NEAL) Group. The NEAL Group of schools has established collaboration with Vector Communications, and the North Shore City Council to create NEAL. Developed as a Gigabit fibre network, NEAL will connect with the research and education super-network KAREN providing schools an international reach.”
91 Tyco Fire & Security

2006 Ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: David Fryda, CIO, Australia and New Zealand
Reports to: Richard Kelleway, managing director
Size of IS shop: 19

PCs: 903
Mobile PCs: 140
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 40
Total screens: 1083


Industry: Manufacturing
PC environment: Windows XP, 2003; Dell; IBM
Server environment: Other Unix; Windows 2003, NT; Dell
DBMS: SQL
Address: Level 1, Building 1, 666 Great South Road, Auckland
Website: www.tycoservices.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Hardware upgrades; track and trace for cash in transit, investigating new CRM system.


Organic growth is a major focus for Tyco Fire & Security, which provides electronic security systems, fire protection, detection and suppression systems; sprinklers and fire extinguishers; and security services.
CIO David Fryda says the key business challenge is securing staff in a climate of extremely high employment. Particularly affected are areas of ‘manned services’ such as guarding and patrolling as well as ICT. Tyco has 19 IT staff and recently appointed IT services manager Antony Mayo, formerly of Southern Cross Healthcare.
Fryda says investing in new technologies delivers processing efficiencies and a competitive edge. New projects include improving cash parcel track-and-tracing via GPRS wireless technologies and mobile devices, and working with the NZ Fire Service for implementation of new technologies that will increase the reliability of signals received from fire and safety alert panels on buildings.
92 AgResearch

2006 Ranking: 96

Senior IS executive: Dr Phillip Lindsay, chief information officer
Reporting to: CEO
Size of IS shop: 50

PCs: 1390
Mobile PCs: 120
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 50
Total screens: 1560

Industry: Business management and scientific services
PC environment: Windows XP, HP
Server environment: Windows 2000, Various Unix, Linux, Intel, AMD
DBMS: SQL, Postgres, Oracle, MySQL
Address: Ruakura Research Centre, East Street, Hamilton
Website: www.agresearch.cri.nz
Key IS projects this year: Electronic content management; business intelligence; workflow applications, collaboration; GIS; KAREN network.

Growing sustainable revenue, managing costs and generating successful spin-offs are the 2007 objectives of AgResearch, a crown-owned research and development company. Challenges include the need to improve customer management, lower transaction costs and improve access to organisational knowledge assets.
This year, AgResearch plans to expose its intellectual assets through broad knowledge management and electronic content management projects and through providing best-in-class IS services.
CIO Dr Phillip Lindsay says current IT focus areas include a new electronic document management project, revised business intelligence tools and the streamlining of organisational processes. “We are in the midst of the provision of superior IT tools for managing and analysing data — particularly bioinformatics and we are making a major push into visualisation tools.”
The new KAREN research network will help ensure these tools can be used across AgResearch and with other parties, particularly with the Australian-based CSIRO and major universities.
IT challenges include the demand for improved data security systems — which currently requires one full-time employee; the need for ongoing infrastructure upgrades; and a “huge” increase in storage requirements that has AgResearch evaluating a multi-tier storage system.
93 Goodman Fielder New Zealand

2006 ranking: 82

Senior IS executive: Erin Melhop, IT manager
Reports to: Chief financial officer
Size of IS shop: 100

PCs: 865
Mobile PCs: 230
Terminals:0
Hand-held devices:0
Total screens: 1095

Industry: Manufacturing
PC environment: Win 95, 98, 2000, XP; Dell; IBM
Server environment: AIX; HP Unix; Windows 2000, 2003, NT; HP Intel-Based, IBM Other
DBMS: Ingres, Lotus, Oracle, SQL
Address: Goodman Fielder House, 7 Springs Road, East Tamaki, Auckland
Website: http://www.goodmanfielder.com.au/
Key IS projects this year: Not disclosed.


Goodman Fielder is New Zealand’ss largest producer of fast moving consumer goods, operating across 22 production sites and employing over 2000 staff.
Recent acquisitions included the La Famiglia chilled bakery and Country Life health and organic bakery businesses in Australia, the Northern Bakeries operations in New Zealand, and New Zealand baking business, La Biscuiti.
Goodman Fielder has also entered into agreements to acquire the bakery and flour mill business of River Mill Bakeries in New Zealand, the Copperpot foods business in Australia and the majority share in the Arnott’s biscuits business in Papua New Guinea.
Key IT challenges and projects have included the integration of New Zealand and Australian IT organisations, the implementation of B2B initiatives and a sales force automation solution.
CEO Peter Margin told the NZ Herald the risks ahead for the company included managing commodity cost movements and ensuring that its NZ business delivers.
94 Eastern Institute of Technology

2006 Ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: Paul Thompson, IT services manager
Reports to: Director of corporate services
Size of IS shop: 10

PCs: 1113
Mobile PCs: 47
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 2
Total screens: 1162

Industry: Education services
PC environment: Windows XP, Cyclone
Server environment: Windows 2003, Cyclone
DBMS: SQL
Address: Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier
Website: www.eit.ac.nz
Key IS projects this year: VMWare installation and server consolidation; document management and messaging consolidation.

ICT is a central support to the goals of the Eastern Institute of Technology to provide strong research resources along with teaching and learning.
“The IT team is moving from being support focused to a role in which we are actively involved in projects that deliver extra capability to users. Services that enhance teaching and learning received particular attention last year along with infrastructure upgrades,” says Paul Thompson, IT services manager. “Our goal is to stay current and modern in order to look attractive to staff and students.”
He says as delivery of services via the internet is a key IT strategy, EIT is waiting to see what the upcoming telecommunications legislation and new services might be able to deliver. “We would like to see students having the bandwidth easily available at home to ensure smooth access to our services… unconstrained by data caps.”
95 Beca Group

2006 ranking: 99

Senior IS executive: Robin Johansen, chief information officer
Reports to: Managing director, Beca Corporate Holdings
Size of IS shop: 31

PCs: 1047
Mobile PCs: 447
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 0
Total screens: 1494


Industry: Business management and scientific services
PC environment: Windows 2000, Vista; Dell; HP
Server environment: Windows 2000, Server 2003; HP Intel-Based
DBMS: SQL Address: 132 Vincent Street, Auckland
Website: www.beca.com
Key IS projects this year: Vista upgrade; Meridio (knowledge management); data storage.

Beca is broadening its international presence and being able to work from anywhere and transact large files seamlessly are key objectives. “Data communications performance is the biggest challenge with mobility – how you keep people connected and with access to the right information when they are overseas, especially somewhere like the Marshall Islands where there is nothing else but dial-up,” says CIO Robin Johansen. “It’s like trying to get superb performance out of pieces of wet string.”
He says while Beca is investigating WAN optimisation, the best solution is cheap, effective broadband and Beca would like to see telecommunications in New Zealand become more competitive as a result of local loop unbundling and for telecommunication providers to be able to offer better customised systems. Projects for 2007 include an international business information and workflow system upgrade and server virtualisation to aid business continuity and disaster recovery programmes.
96 Diocesan School for Girls

2006 ranking: 89

Senior IS executive: Craig Harrison, information systems manager
Reports to: Merle Boniface, director of business and planning
Size of IS shop: 8

PCs: 300
Mobile PCs: 1170
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 15
Total screens: 1485

Industry: Education services
PC environment: Windows XP, Dell, HP, Toshiba
Server environment: Windows Server 2003, HP
DBMS: SQL Server
Address: Clyde Street, Epsom, Auckland
Website: www.diocesan.school.nz
Key IS projects this year: Strategic planning; website upgrade; parent portal; community portal; business continuity planning; digital photography suite; Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 pilot; server virtualisation pilot.

Each year, the Diocesan School for Girls rolls out an additional 230 laptops to new students and the inherent IT knowledge of new students tends to be higher each year.
As a result, there is a need to move beyond providing a basic level of support, to assisting teachers and administration staff to use IT more effectively and keep pace with student knowledge, says IS manager Craig Harrison.
The school recently implemented a new ERP and CRM system called Synergetic from CDA that covers HR, payroll, finance and student record management. “We have invested a lot and now need to track down independent spreadsheet and database use around the school and incorporate those into the new system,” he says.
Wireless technologies based on the 802.11 standard are affordable and indispensable for the school given that all senior students carry laptops. Late last year the school experienced performance problems with its wireless infrastructure, so doubled it to 100 wireless transmitters through partner Eagle Technology.
The school has a fibre optic connection and service from Orcon, which Harrison says meets all their bandwidth needs but took more than two years of negotiation to achieve.
97 Works Infrastructure

2006 Ranking: 94

Senior IS executive: Sandra Dodds, general manager, corporate services
Reports to: Peter Reidy, CEO
Size of IS shop: 6

PCs: 700
Mobile PCs: 150
Terminals: 0
Hand-held devices: 0
Total screens: 850

Industry: Construction and engineering services
PC environment: Windows 2000, XP; IBM
Server environment: Windows 2000, 2003, NT; HP; Dell; IBM
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: 14 Amelia Earhart Avenue, Airport Oaks, Auckland
Website: www.works.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Not disclosed.

Works Infrastructure is a leading provider of routine maintenance, preventative maintenance and construction services to road and rail sectors in Australia and New Zealand. Works Infrastructure is owned by Australian listed company Downer EDI, but originated as part of the public works department of the New Zealand government. The entity was corporatised in 1991 and subsequently sold to the Downer Group in 1996.
Traditionally, Works Infrastructure’s IT strategy has been to outsource IT network and desktop support and administration, and maintain a lean IT organisational structure. IT staff members have mainly concentrated on business systems support, rather than desktop or network support and traditionally, network (WAN and LAN) support and administration, desktop and laptop, printing services have all been outsourced to a service provider.
98 Housing New Zealand Corporation

2006 ranking: 88

Senior IS executive: Rob Herries, information technology manager
Reports to: Arun Patel, GM support services
Size of IS shop: 20

PCs: 1170
Mobile PCs: 50
Terminals:0
Hand-held devices:0
Total screens: 1220


Industry: Health and community services
PC environment: Windows, HP
Server environment: Windows, Red Hat Linux, HP
DBMS: Oracle
Address: 28 Grey Street, Wellington
Website: www.hnzc.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Continuation of migration of applications to the web; increasing defence capability against spam, virus and other forms of attack; upgrade of thin client, VoIP and mobile technology upgrades.

Housing New Zealand Corporation strives for improved efficiency and effectiveness through the use of its IT systems to support core delivery of government housing programmes and services. Information technology manager Rob Herries says IT focus over the coming years is to provide and maintain sound core systems that support the corporation’s business needs. Projects include implementing new web applications, business-to-business information transfer, an information access and document management system and basic mobile workforce solutions.
In 2006, IT work was focused on migrating all applications to the web; increasing defence capability against spam, virus and other forms of attack; and upgrading thin client, VoIP and mobile technologies. IT project partners include Revera, Datacom, Microsoft and Oracle.
Herries says spam, viruses and other forms of attack are an unnecessary drain on IT resources. “We have to find a new way of combating this problem instead of increasing our investment in defences each year.”
99 Turners & Growers

2006 Ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: Martyn Seddon, GM, information systems
Reports to: CFO
Size of IS shop: 30

PCs: 50
Mobile PCs: 65
Terminals: 850
Hand-held devices: 200
Total screens: 1165

Industry: Wholesale and retail trade
PC environment: Windows XP, HP
Server environment: Windows 2003, NT; HP
DBMS: Oracle, SQL
Address: 2 Monahan Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland
Website: www.turnersandgrowers.com
Key IS projects this year: CRM; online services; FCC migration to SAP; status migration to SAP; Floramax migration to SAP.

In the next 24 months, Turners & Growers will create a business environment that allows its several business units to act as one and collaborate. Improved communication and processes are expected, and will be supported by more consolidated SAP ERP systems and a customer focus via a CRM system, portal and online service initiatives.
Marytn Seddon, general manager information systems, says this move should deliver the competitive advantage sought by the business over the past four years. “IT services has not been in a position to provide any competitive advantage to the business for a while – that should change during this year with the rest of our business units being migrated to SAP.”
Challenges include finding and retaining IT specialists skilled in SAP development and implementation. Ensuring IT staff remain happy and upskilled also requires careful management, he says.
IT projects for 2007 include further implementation of business analysis tools and server virtualisation.
100 TPF Restaurants

2006 Ranking: Unlisted

Senior IS executive: Zane Devey, IT manager
Reports to: Business services general manager
Size of IS shop: 4

PCs: 732
Mobile PCs: 25
Terminals: 350
Hand-held devices: 0
Total screens: 1107

Industry: Accommodation and food services
PC environment: Linux, Windows XP, HP
Server environment: Linux, Windows 2003, HP,
DBMS: SQL, MySQL, Postgres
Address: 23F William Pickering Drive, Albany, Auckland
Website: www.burgerking.co.nz; www.hell.co.nz
Key IS projects this year: Knowledge management; server virtualisation, POS enhancements; business performance management systems.

A privately-owned NZ business, TPF Restaurants will continue to grow its two key brands in 2007 – Burger King and Hell Pizza – and deliver “best taste quality”.
“This is a competitive market with challenges including active competitors and increasing operating costs. We have to continually focus on these issues, although the Hell purchase has created synergy opportunities and Burger King still has growth potential,” says IT manager Zane Devey. “The focus this year is on the POS tools at the back-end of the business so that managers can use these to run their shifts better.”
TPF Restaurants will continue to invest in back-end software and resources including its Restaurant Support Centre (RSC) data warehousing and data mining applications. “These, combined with business intelligence tools allow us to understand our customer’s preference and key business drivers.”