IT: Splitting the "I" from the "T"

For people in the IT field, it may be more beneficial to think in terms of whether you are more "I" or more "T", because the two are diverging into separate career paths. Traditionally, the best IT professionals have had the perfect blend of the two components: understanding the needs and goals of the business side (I), while still having a good handle on the bits and bytes of technology (T). But as IT workers take on more management responsibility, it is not unusual to start losing some "T" while growing stronger in the "I". That's because increasing management responsibilities take IT staff away from the hands-on aspect of technology and forces them to maintain their "T" through reading, not doing. Experts say that soon, IT professionals will need to "I" and "T". Those who choose "T" had better be extremely competent, because much of that type of work is being offshored or given to employees who will work for less. Those who focus on "I" (information design and management, process design and management, and relationship management) will have it much easier.

For more about the diverging paths of "I" versus "T":
- read the blog at TechRepublic