IT managers today should educate business owners about ongoing IT needs and participate in executive planning sessions.
(1888PressRelease) June 21, 2011 - Alberta, Canada -In a workplace, it appears communication skills trump IT expertise, according to a poll of IT management students conducted by CA Technologies, a global IT software solutions and research firm.
"One of the biggest IT problems for many companies is the barrier in communication between IT managers and executives," says David Papp, author of IT Survival Guide: Conquering Information Technology in Your Organization. "The left hand doesn't understand what the right is doing."
IT managers may have great knowledge of networks, servers and IT trends, but they often fail to communicate the company's IT needs to upper management, according to Mr. Papp. As a result, IT budgets remain small, and business opportunities are lost.
"Executives are equally to blame," says David. "Many have little interest in understanding their company's IT system and see IT expenditures as necessary evils rather than valuable investments. The truth is IT systems can make or break a company."
David believes IT managers today should educate business owners about ongoing IT needs and participate in executive planning sessions. IT plays a critical role in business success and should be included when developing strategic plans.
In the poll, 45 percent felt social skills were the most valuable asset for IT managers while 51 percent felt IT skills were least important. The presence of strong communication and relational skills could make the difference in landing an IT management job.
"It's no wonder today's IT management students see communication and team skills as important," says Mr. Papp. "The days of the techie stashed away in some remote cubicle are gone. IT managers of tomorrow will be dynamic and involved. These are the skills students should be seeking."
About the Author:
David Papp is an international IT consultant with over twenty years' experience in IT systems. He is a popular keynote speaker on numerous IT topics. Mr. Papp has a computer engineering degree from the University of Alberta and holds multiple industry certifications.
IT Survival Guide: Conquering Information Technology in Your Organization is available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.