Across the globe we’re witnessing an ever increasing dependency on IT systems and the services we expect from them. Society is becoming more and more familiar with IT functions and terminology, but are we really becoming more proficient with the systems? We need to ask the question “Is my knowledge increasing at the same rate as the developments within the industry?” for if not, then surely I’m falling behind.
I appreciate the fact that no-one can know everything about everything and therefore the above question needs to be placed into context, such as Dreamweaver or Networking if that’s my specialist subject or chosen industry.The critical factors must surely be not necessarily the breadth of knowledge, but the pertinence of the knowledge as the driving force.
I’m reminded of the story where the owner of a large tanker had consistent issues with the engines of his ship, and often had to bring in ‘specialist’ engineers to fix the problems every time they berthed at ports around the world. Whilst trying different methods to resolve the challenge, the owner of the tanker was becoming more and more frustrated.
Finally he remembered an old friend of his when they berthed at a port in South America. The friend was a fully qualified engineer, and had an exceptional talent for fixing and maintaining marine engines, so he asked if he could help. His friend agreed, and proceeded straight to the engine bays. First he listened to the engines, then he walked around and tapped a few pipes with his spanner. Finally he moved to a valve and adjusted it 25 degrees clockwise. Immediately the problem was resolved and the engines settled down.
The following day the owner’s pal returned with an invoice for $10,000. The owner was horrified by the size of the invoice, particularly as all he had to do was to turn a valve. So he asked his old friend for a breakdown, hoping for a reduction. The next day the engineer returned with the breakdown as follows – For time spent onboard to solve the problem – a special rate to a friend, $1. For knowing where to tap and which valve to turn, $9,999.
This reminds us surely that all knowledge should be suitable for purpose and so equally should the methodology of training and the techniques used. Within the fast-paced IT industry the reliance upon traditional training techniques like classroom attendance and dated teaching skills is surely at odds with the buoyancy of the industry as a whole.
Whilst I’m not putting down IT teachers, there is a concern where it’s left to the individual to keep their knowledge as cutting-edge and pertinent as possible. I can sympathise with the difficulties in maintaining this if a person isn’t exposed to the latest industrial developments, as those who are working within Microsoft directly are.
Students are the opposite, and are voracious in seeking access to the latest thoughts, terms and techniques wherever possible. Any system that can provide 24/7 direct or indirect access to the knowledge and thoughts of the leaders in the industry would pertain to both teacher and student alike.
Moving into the working environment, many owners of IT systems expect their IT support teams to do more than manage and maintain the integrity of the systems, to protect the business interests. They also look to them to provide strategic support and advice, to ensure that decisions regarding IT procedures, hardware and operating system procurement provide a business edge, and keep the company ahead of its competitors within their particular field.
When mulling over the options for development within IT, either for a career start, as a career change, or to further ones future within the industry – one of the key factors has been the growing attraction of the professional qualifications. It benefits from the same factors overall as the Aviation industry in that a common language and format is reasonably dominant throughout.
Students looking to maximise their employability long-term will be favoured by adopting the approaches and methods of the industry heavyweights. This will make them attractive to a wider range of employers – in both the short term and long term. Certifications recognised by industry leaders (such as the MCSE or MCSA) that have legitimacy across industry sectors and geographical boundaries remain a prudent choice when considering a level of insurance in today’s economic climate.
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