Are you implementing or considering technologies, such as Social Computing and Cloud-based platforms?  Is IT positioned to exploit these technologies?

Why am I asking these questions? Well, we talk a lot about new technology and the impact it has on the way we do business, but what does it really mean for IT staff and their skills? New technology trends, such as Social Computing, Cloud-based platforms, and the demand for real-time data and knowledge, may change the skills mix required by IT.  CIOs, with today’s thinly spread resources, face a tough task preparing IT for new technology. Maybe it doesn’t matter — IT may just muddle through — but this means that CIOs will fall back into their reactive trap. So here’s my early thinking…Given these circumstance, CIOs need to:

• Focus on the highest priority skills. CIOs should prioritize those skills required for new technologies. These will emphasize the ability to innovate and manage vendors. For example, the ability to learn, develop, and implement new 2.0 technology will become a new “core” skill.
• Focus on the right IT staff segment. CIOs can’t retrain every IT person in the new technologies. Instead, CIOs must focus on investing in the right IT staff that can support, maintain and expand the use of new technology. Whether it is enhancing business continuity or client relationship management to support new technology adoption by the business. 
• Use partners to fill the gap. CIOs should collaborate with consultants, outsourcers, and research firms to supplement skills that they don’t have. CIOs should turn to their partners to fill the service management, project management and infrastructure gaps that are created through the adoption of these new technologies.

Is this contentious? Well, tell me what you think: what are the IT staffing trends; what IT roles have gained in significant; and what criteria do you use to assess IT staff in different roles? 

Look out for our research based on over 120 IT decision maker’s view on IT staffing trends.