Derek Wood scribbles a third diagram into his notebook. The stakeholder meeting has been going on for almost an hour. It’s the umpteenth meeting with the client since the project started two years ago. Today will be tight. The five managers around the table expect a proposal from him later today. The chairman makes his final comments. Wood jots down a few key words at the end of four pages of notes in his notebook. The meeting ends. Wood strides to his car, relieved he didn't bring a computer. His digital pen does not have to be checked out of the high-security building.

Wood and his small team at LS Computing develop architecture for large corporate computer systems, mainly SAP-flavoured. He listens to the problems of clients with petrochemical, banking, automotive or other technology-dependent businesses. Then he turns what he heard into project proposals. Fast.