Back to the Future

It is time to rethink IT and the corporate IT organization.  We have seen a transition from COBOL or RPG Programmers trained in Junior Colleges or trade schools to folks with computer science degrees trained in Java, C, C++ and other advanced technologies.  We have seen business executives circumvent their own IT organizations and buy complete HW/SW based systems from 3rd parties.

Business has lost faith in IT and IT professionals.  Most in-house IT organizations are no longer able to fully and properly support their organization or enterprise.

It is perhaps time to make some changes in the way we deal with IT starting with the senior IT executive or CIO.  Not too many years ago, the CIO came out of a strong business oriented background and focused on addressing the business requirements of the business for which they worked.  Today many are computer science technologists who have risen to a level based on their technical knowledge and skills.

IMHO its time to clean house.  With the low cost of extremely talented technical resources in China and India, it is time to outsource all programming.  Its time to get rid of all of the technologists in your organization including and especially a technical CIO.

If your CIO isn't business oriented and focused totally on addressing business requirements, then GET RID OF HIM or HER!  Get someone with a business and project management background. 

I am working with several clients whose goal is to regain control over their computer systems and solve business problems.  We will be building an entirely new systems group within the organization consisting of non-technical business analysts and project managers. 

Many people say that there are problems associated with outsourcing (these are usually the people being replaced by outsourcing).  The problems that do occur are usually communications and a failure to control projects by the enterprise.  Too many enterprises tell the contractor "do this" and expect it to be done.  Well that is not going to happen.  Indian and Chinese are excellent developers with training and skills well beyond most US or European developers, but communications and strict project management is the key to success.

More on these topics later.