Where does IT feel it first when the economy takes a nosedive? Have you taken on extra work to help your company better weather an economic storm? Has that helped or hurt your IT career? How do you manage specializing in certain technologies with broader skill sets for your business?
The best place to talk about enterprise networking.
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Upside-down IT paradigm
I find the topic to be of interest. An economic downturn shouldn't impact IT practice except for perhaps postponing major expenditures. If stakeholders and IT knew how their IT investments actually contributed to the bottom line, there would be NO impact whatsoever. However, because industry practice focuses mostly on "TECHNOLOGY"....not on how it's used and contributes to the bottom line...we have rhetorical discussions about crunching budgets and reallocation of resources.
Really, why is this an issue? If IT was aligned with the business objectives, the slightest change in plans would be taken in stride. Everything would be prioritized and management would know where to focus resources. In stead, the market is driven by techno-hyperbole: buying check-box technology anointed by Gartner or IDC.
OK, here's a dirty little secret. It's not too sexy or sophisticated nor does it add a new certification to one's title: good management is a combination of education, policy enforcement and change control. Best practices in IT doesn't mean buying some new set-n-forget appliance and sticking in a closet! Much can be accomplished by working smarter and by maximizing existing investments. Unfortunately, engineering hubris and elitist management often gets in the way. Geeks must exhibit technical proficiency by using time-consuming free software to diagnose problems. Free for download but extremely expensive in time-of-use and effort. And any executive who can't see for themselves HOW the network contributes to the bottom line may as well not review a balance sheet because it's that important. "I'll have my networking guy take a look at it" works up until the networking guy doesn't tell them that they're stealing the company blind!" At this point the ignorant exec isn't earning their fat check. Maybe this is what plagues the financial markets today?
I think this is due to the market's penchant for creating exotic network set-n-forget control devices with BIG price tags. Pay $25K and up and NOW you don't have to worry about managing the network. The device does it for you! "We just paid big bucks for this stuff so why isn't it keeping us out of trouble?" Ahem....network and MANAGEMENT are mutually exclusive!
Indeed, ignorance is bliss in IT departments and executive suites throughout the world. Shouldn't management already know where they need to focus without a budget crisis? Doesn't good planning and best practice demand provisions? Yes and yes!
All this demonstrates why we've been getting a lot more attention lately. People want useful information and don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it. And because we present information in a way that non-technical C-level-types can understand, there isn't a need to toss it over the fence for someone else to interpret it.
Personally, if a budget crunching prompts more IT insight and exec involvement, I'm all for it.
Scott Smith
www.congruitytech.com
Gives Opportunity To Disruptive Alternatives
Maybe I'm just making lemonade from lemons... but... I'm planning on new opportunities to sell our open source test (OST) tools to IT in a difficult economic environment. We're selling the functional equivalent of HP/Mercury QTP and LoadRunner for a fraction of the commercial tools costs. Plus, we have the power of a vibrant open source community behind the tools.
-Frank Cohen, PushToTest
IT pros do more with less
I don't know how we can do more with less. Since 2000, we have downsized twice, not including the reductions when we both outsourced and offshored many of our IT positions. We also have a continuous silent RIF in all parts of the company, coupled with a policy of no replacements for employees that voluntarily leave. At this point the only jobs for staff IT people are in the data centers and a tiny number of people that provide desktop services for people moving between locations and to collect company assets when headcount gets reduced. We staff a few strategic projects handed down from senior management, I don't see much IT strategy coming from middle or front-line manager input, there has been no published budget for IT in 8 years now. I can't imagine how the belt could be further! tighte ned without further cutting back on the services provided.
IT opportunity
If there's a dearth of vision regarding IT's contribution and worth, perhaps this is your opportunity to contribute?
The situation as you describe it sounds more like a company in survival mode than one that doesn't value IT. Information Technology is a tool. It's an enabler. It should contribute to a company's ability to be competitive and reduce costs. If IT budgets have NOT been forthcoming, perhaps it's been because the IT department hasn't proven their own worth! IT is NOT just about technology. Users must be trained how to use it effectively. Policies must be monitored and documented. What programs are in-place to show an alignment of usage and policy? If it can't be measured it can't be managed. What metrics are available to show how IT contributes to the bottom line? If you want to get your fair share of budget and executive attention you must show that you're efforts deserve it.
True Facttttttttttttttt.....................
Not able to reach destination in a company,due to current economy statics.It as hardly hurted for people who are newly joined for a company.And it is very difficult to be recognised with good skill sets,I think IT is stated to be shrinking and counting the 1 2 3 4 ...................
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