Technology in Banking-Insight and Foresight for BTA_2011 ... - IDRBT

Technology in Banking – Insight & Foresight 4
1. IDRBT Banking Technology Awards
1.1. Background
Banking Technology Excellence Awards were instituted in the year 2001 with a primary objective of
encouraging and recognizing the excellence in implementation of Technology for better customer
service, operational efficiency and expansion of banking services to the hitherto uncovered sections
of Society. The category of awards has been undergoing changes over the years, in view of the focus
of technology implementation at that time and the need to recognize and encourage a particular
aspect of technology implementation. In the initial period, the Awards were given for
implementation of branch computerization, Implementation of email Services, INFINET usage and
applications, ATM networks, internet banking, etc. Gradually, the newer categories such as
Information Security, IT Governance, Financial Inclusion, Customer Relationship Management etc.,
were covered. Extension of technology to semi-urban and rural areas has also been in focus in
several years’ awards.
1.2. Coverage
The banks which are privately owned and the Foreign Banks generally had initial advantage in view of
the extant guidelines as well as ability to extend the solutions implemented abroad as compared to
the Indian Banks and particularly the Public Sector Banks. Therefore in the initial years, the focus of
the awards was only the public sector banks. However, subsequently it was observed that some of
the Public Sector Banks surged ahead in implementing technology even in the face of constraints and
could compete effectively with their private and foreign peers. In view of this observation in the
recent years’, awards selection process did not discriminate between banks with different ownership
and compared their performance on merit. The only factor that was given consideration was the size
of operations of the banks which determine the opportunities as well as challenges faced by the
banks in implanting technology solutions. Rather than any specific criteria of size, the classification
was based on judgmental discretion of the Jury Panel.
The awards typically sought to recognize the efforts during the year rather than cumulative
achievement over the years. As part of the nomination process, the banks were asked to provide
detailed information covering both quantitative as well as qualitative aspects in the form of a
detailed questionnaire for each award category. The evaluation of these submissions was done
objectively by ranking the quantitative aspects as well as assigning scores to the qualitative aspects
based on the comparative performance of the banks. For the purpose of evaluation, the statements
made by the banks were taken to be correct on the face value and no cross validation of the
responses was carried out by the evaluation teams.
The only exception to this was when the
apparently inconsistent responses were cross checked with concerned banks for clarification. During
formal or informal interactions there were suggestions from Jury members over the years about
asking the short-listed banks to make presentations. This could not be implemented on account of
the difficulty in organizing this activity, in view of the busy schedule of the Jury members.
Institute for Development & Research
in Banking Technology