home
NEWS       BLOGS       FORUMS       NEWSLETTERS       RESEARCH       EVENTS       DIGITAL LIBRARY       CAREERS  
Network Computing Network Computing Powered by InformationWeek Business Technology Network

IMMERSE YOURSELF:

SOA

  |

Data Center

  |

802.11n

  |

Data Privacy

  |
APO  |

Virtualization

  |

NAC

  |

Security

  |

Network Mgmt

  |

Enterprise Apps

  |

Storage & Servers



The Business of IT
F E A T U R E  
Survey Says...

  October 10, 2002
  By David Joachim and James Hutchinson


TOC Issue TOC
Printer Print full article
Printer Print this page
Printer Download as PDF
E-Mail E-Mail this URL
flame author Flame the author

IT is in a state of flux. Technology budgets are stalled--IT spending as a percentage of gross revenue averaged 3.2 percent in July, compared with a peak of 7.5 percent in 2000, according to a Meta Group study. (On the bright side, we're up from a low of 2.1 percent in February

2001.) Why the tightened belts? Some companies feel burned by hefty boom-time tech investments they believe promised a lot but delivered little. The technologies in place are working, and many execs are satisfied with the status quo or are choosing their projects with an eye on strategic, business-enabling investments.


These ongoing dynamics are leading to new questions for IT pros: When the economy rebounds, will technology still be a top business priority? How can I get a better handle on business goals? And once I get a handle, how can I get IT front and center in planning?

You've told us it pays to check out what your peers are doing, so we polled you on your feelings about technology trends, your jobs and your organizations. We discovered that you're fed up with corporate politics and bureaucracy (see "Winds of Change"). We also learned that despite the lingering economic malaise, many IT shops are forging ahead with infrastructure and enterprise-application projects (see "Down to Brass Tacks"), investing in their infrastructures when clear business value can be shown.

Mike Hahm, systems analyst and engineer for the Montana Department of Administration, sees new prospects on the horizon even as tech loses some of its mystique. "As the IT infrastructure becomes commoditized, it becomes a known factor," Hahm says. "So people get more comfortable with it and figure out more ways to use it. And as new application layers are placed on top, that opens up new opportunity."

Others believe their skills will remain in demand for more fundamental reasons. "It's like a car--you'll always need someone to fix something," says Vanessa Hill, network administrator for Progressive Life Center, a Washington-based nonprofit children's services organization.

We think Paul Davis, IT manager at Rinehart Oil, in Ukiah, Calif., sums it up when he says: "Fads come and go, but business computing isn't a fad. It's the standard now." We agree, and we're taking from this survey, besides valuable feedback on where to focus our testing in 2003, the reality that business and technology are more tightly interwoven than ever. You need to have strong business practices enabled by solid technology methodologies to be successful; both are requirements.

David Joachim is Network Computing's editor/business technology. James Hutchinson is Network Computing's director/editorial content. Write to them at djoachim@nwc.com or jhutchinson@nwc.com.


start top





Looking for a new job?

Function:

Keyword(s):

State:
SPONSOR
RECENT JOB POSTINGS
CAREER NEWS
The tumbling of IT jobs stopped in the second quarter, as the IT sector added about 44,000 jobs.

It's just a glimmer, but Oracle is starting to see a bit of light at the end of the recession tunnel.










2009 IT Salary Survey: Meager Raises, Solid Prospects
Though raises are notably smaller than a year ago, and job security’s shrinking, IT careers are looking safer than many others in this economic downturn. Get all the findings in InformationWeek's 2009 IT Salary Survey. Available FREE for a limited time.
 
ROLLING RIGHT ALONG
Follow key Network Computing Reviews from conception to completion. This Week: Holistic APM.



Network Computing Reports Emerging Enterprise Podcast Series: Secrets to Success








TechSearch


Microsite of the Week


Powerful Information at Your Fingertips



Techweb
Informationweek Business Technology Network
InformationweekInformationweek 500Informationweek 500 ConferenceInformationweek AnalyticsInformationweek Events
Informationweek MagazineGlobal CIOIWK Government ITbMightyByte and SwitchDark Reading
Digital LibraryIntelligent EnterpriseInternet EvolutionNetwork ComputingPlug Into The CloudDr. DobbsContentinople
space
TechWeb Events Network
InteropVoiceConWeb 2.0 ExpoWeb 2.0 SummitEnterprise 2.0Mobile Business ExpoNoJitter
Black HatGTECEnergy CampCloud ConnectGov 2.0 ExpoGov 2.0 Summit
space
Light Reading Communications Network
Light ReadingLight Reading AsiaUnstrungCable Digital NewsInternet EvolutionPyramid Research
Heavy ReadingLight Reading LiveLight Reading InsiderEthrnet ExpoTelco TVTower Technology Summit
space
Financial Technology Network
Advanced TradingBank Systems and TechnologyInsurance and TechnologyWall Street and TechnologyAccelerating WallstreetBST SummitBuyside Trading SummitIT Summit
space
Microsoft Technology Network
MSDNTechNetTotal IT ProTotal Dev ProNET Total Dev Pro CommunitySQL Total Dev Pro Community
space


App Infrastructure   |   Messaging & Collaboration   |   Network & Systems Mgmt   |   Network Infrastructure   |   Security  |   Storage & Servers   |   Wireless   |   Enterprise Apps
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Technology Marketing Solutions  |  Advertising Contacts  |   Briefing Centers
Copyright © 2009  United Business Media LLC  |  Privacy Statement  |  Terms of Service