Network World

This article (which I'm taking notes on, it is that useful) says the exact opposite of your rhetoric. Read page 7, where it (correctly) states that consumers and the younger generation are becoming more aware of technologies.

No one in the IT field that I've spoken to (half a dozen, from sysadmins to professors) believe that they are the key to all things tech. Understanding that I.T. is ULTIMATELY a customer service industry is an important thing to remember.

A very nice and wide article. The business IT going back to roots! IT started as an agile service for business a long time ago, came "independent" in 80's and 90's and is finding its place in business - at least we hope so.

The article mentions many important points where the thinking, education and training have gone, if not wrong but too IT centric. Certificates are nice but have a limited value, they are either very specific to one skill or even worse, specific to one vendor products.

I don't fully agree - "Cycles are shorter, quicker refreshes are required and companies have to contend with the pressures of globalization, thinning margins, rampant merger and acquisition activity, and tighter regulations." Maybe it is just my experience, the industries, the countries and the types of systems I have been working but in reality business has always been agile, it is IT which started slowing the adaption. Some countries had tighter regulations than in US today already in 70's, business decisions have happened fast, corporate merges have always happened (we acquired about 100 companies in 5 years in 70's - a nightmare for IT but got resolved), and so on. Even networks in large corporate business is not much new except now there are more customers connected - I had networked offices in several countries in Europe, US and Hong Kong in 70's, consulted companies with offices, customers and factories networked in 50+ countries in 80's, etc. so the technology may have changed but not the problems.

Anyway - I fully agree with the agile, standards, rules and regulations. They really support each other and are needed for fast but controlled and economical IT in business. Unfortunately, as the article mentions, many corporations don't see that way. It is also my experience but slowly (very slowly) changing.

One "small" problem - this article is still a little too IT centric, no wonder, this is Network World. It comes out for example in security - yes, network, system, endpoint, whatever security is important but not the whole picture - ask any security responsible Cxx in oil, airline, or any other global company if IT is really the the key to security or do they think corporate wide? As part of security, many years I and my boss were not allowed to take the same flights - I was his backup and he was my backup, so.. Or like I was responsible of building security (top of the IT security as a systems programmer NOT a manager position at that time!) because the IT centers were showcases at that time, once in building throw some explosives (assuming you could break our safety glass) or maybe access one of the office terminals, 2500+ in that building, and so on.

Yes, I think there is a shortage of persons who have the experience to think business and IT at the same time, and yes, they need a fair compensation, the job is not easy and it is 24x7! - and, I hope that articles like this will wake up companies before it is to late!