Economy Down, Innovation UpEconomy Down, Innovation Up

How do the most innovative companies stay successful in this tough economy? Part of the formula is their strategic use of IT. From a warehouse-size robotic system to one of the world's largest integrated travel-reservation systems, five industry-leading companies from our information 500 list have created cutting-edge technology systems despite the troubled economy. Four of these industries--hospitality and travel, IT, retailing, and steel processing--have been hit hard by the economic slowdown; one, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, has continued to grow. The stories examine how these innovative companies--Cendant, Compaq, Eli Lilly, Longs Drug Stores, and Worthington Industries--enlist IT to improve their business operations and steer them toward continued success.