The same team that revealed that 50% of company directors have never been briefed on technology (see i-FM 30 September) is now backing an interactive database where companies can check their own preparedness.

Last autumn, the Institute of Directors, Cisco Systems and Oracle completed a survey that showed widespread limitations at board level. In addition to lack of information, there was a worrying indifference to some of the issues now reshaping business. In a surprising number of companies, a typical attitude was "technology is someone else's job".

Now, in conjunction with IT consultants The Bathwick Group, this team has launched "Connected World", incorporating an extensive e-business database that provides benchmarks against which any company can compare itself. The results don't provide solutions, but they do highlight areas for future improvement.

Bathwick has also launched a series of seminars focusing on a range of related aspects, from strategy development, through customer relationship management, to business process optimisation. Details on www.bathwick.com

Elliott Chase