Being a technology executive means keeping your eyes firmly fixed on the big picture. This is doubly the case in the insurance industry, where even the most straightforward projects are saddled with layers of complexity, thanks to the ever-changing tangled forest of standards and legal requirements. There is seemingly no such thing as the subtle maneuverthe project that will bear fruit next week. You want results? Come back in 18 months.

But this is 2002, in the era of instant messages, day trading, and 24-hour news. We may not be in a recession, but economic forecasts are still partly cloudy. Long-term plans are often being put on back burners in favor of ideas and programs that will generate revenue or cut costs today.

We asked a number of industry executives and analysts for their best suggestions for those types of projects. They do, in fact, exist; any of the following five ideas will deliver an ROI in six to nine months, if not sooner. Will they dramatically alter the course of your company? Doubtful. But, as we all occasionally forget, little things can sometimes mean a lot.