Don't study IT if you want to be a CIO.

Sukgu's comments - I think this is an intereting opinion to insist not to study IT if you want to be a CIO. In many cases I agree with this idea with the reason that managers taking resposibilities of IT functions in companies are required to be knowledgable at business processes and fundamentals. It's because they have to design the IT based processes that are just the reflections of business processes. However, there have been criticisms that too many top management only have business administration backgrounds in Korea. That has had an impact on many young people to take business related degree, rather than technology related degree. This will hurt the Korea's potential for growth in the future.
Anyhow, I still agree with this idea in some aspects. However, IT knowledge and skills should be basic qualifications for any IT specialists.


http://knowledge.computing.co.uk/2007/09/dont-study-it-i.html
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Don't study IT if you want to be a CIO
A contact suggested to me recently there is no point studying technology at university any more. He said it's because firms no longer demand programmers and developers, they require business-focused graduates that can become future chief information officers (CIOs).
More and more companies are realising they can pick up IT services for cheaper overseas, which means more and more IT work is being offshored.
Where does this leave graduates with a surfeit of technology skills? Increasingly, lower down the management food chain.
Computing has written at length about the need for UK educators and business leaders to work more closely together to provide more relevant technology courses.
The answer - as my contact suggests - might be more simple. Stop studying IT courses; at least those focused on web development and programming that can be provided at lower cost from other parts of the world.
A basic knowledge of IT will see you right, something which most technology graduates in today's IT literate society will have already developed.
Focus, instead, on business. Technology management, after all, needs you to understand business and financial processes: return on investment; change management; risk management; even green strategies.
Thinking of getting in to IT and what to get ahead? Then don't study the bits and bytes - concentrate on the pounds and the pence.
Posted at 05:36 PM in green, outsourcing, skills, strategy Permalink