Technology and business have always had an uneasy relationship, especially now that the internet investment boom is over. Technology drives innovation but, when it comes to paying for it, the bean counters want to go back to basics.
Sitting in the middle of this and juggling both sides is Glover Ferguson, chief scientist of the global consulting company Accenture.
His brief is to see how emerging technologies can be used in real business situations. He does not create the new technology - that is left to others to do - but he takes what is newly available and tries to see if there is a business case for it.
'The lab's mission is to understand emerging technologies. My guys wander around with soldering irons trying to build things,' he said.
The job sounds like fun, but it is a serious one as well. The only way to stay ahead of the competition is to understand what the next big technological innovation is going to be and implement it before anyone else. That, however, costs money. And if you get it wrong, heads will roll and some companies may even go out of business.
The only way to maintain a balance is to make certain the technology and business goals merge. This means being quick to show how a new technology can benefit a business and, hopefully, save it money.