Sears CIO Gerald F. Kelly, Jr.: Transforming I.T.: "Gerald F. Kelly, Jr. is senior vice president and CIO of Sears, Roebuck and Co., a US$41.1 billion retailer of clothing, automotive and home products, and services. The Sears nationwide retail network includes approximately 870 full-line stores and more than 1,300 specialty stores, as well as Sears.com and Landsend.com."

"CIO Today: Which enterprise component or technology will be growing most in terms of its slice of your company's budget pie in the next 12 months?

"Kelly: There are two. The renovation of our selling systems for retail, online and product repair into the enterprise selling system, and replacing our systems for merchandizing, planning, distribution and replenishment. Those applications lie at the core of what we are as a retail company. They either directly affect the customer at the transaction level, or they affect the customer at the product level."