What Is This Site All About?

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

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It is about setting the record straight on on what 'business' needs in terms of support from computing. By 'business' I mean any activity where people perform tasks, usually for a living. This 'business' might be finance, chemical engineering, teaching, medical research, construction, etc. The reason for using computers is to enhance the business operation, enable people to be more effective, save time and do things that might take people an inordinate time to carry out. In short, computing needs to justify its existence by showing business benefit and not simply be an unavoidable overhead.

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The site author (me) has been in and around 'business' information technology (IT) for over 50 years, both at the coal face and latterly as researcher and author on the topic. My experience has encompassed account management across several industries, specialist roles, teaching and marketing.

 

Unfortunately, I still don't know it all and I am still learning, via the very act of creating with website.

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Today, the skills shortage seems clustered around shiny new areas, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, machine learning (ML) and cybersecurity. However, these skills are but the tip of the computing skills iceberg (picture may take time to appear) and these skills are just as important in keeping the business show on the road. In fact, the shiny subjects rely on these below the waterline skills and the output they produce. They also rely on the forbearance of executives  who will go along with them but sooner or later will ask what business benefit they bring to the party. The executive equation I learned years ago goes:

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IT Expense and No Business Benefit = Exit Stage Left

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The results of my IT career in harness permeates this website, I hope, and my main writing output can be seen below:

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Open Systems: The Reality     

BCS Practitioner Series   ISBN 0-13-030735-1

https://www.amazon.com/Open-Systems-Reality-Bcs-Practitioner/dp/0130307351 

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High Availability IT Services      

https://www.crcpress.com/High-Availability-IT-Services/Critchley/9781482255904

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High Performance IT Services      

https://www.crcpress.com/High-Performance-IT-Services/Critchley/9781498769198

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Making It in IT  

https://www.crcpress.com/Making-It-in-IT/Critchley/9781498782760

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Current computing education has its place but, in my considered view, does not match up to the needs of the workplace in the skills it offers, nor does it keep pace with the rapidly evolving computing ecosphere. There are hundreds of courses on offer, both face to face at university and school and some online.

 

There is a huge IT skills gap in terms of actual skills and importantly, the number of people imbued with those skills. IT is not just about knowledge but skills; technical and soft, with a touch of marketing, knowledge of body language and a sense of humour. I developed the skills of reading upside down text when at the desk of customers but this is not mandatory for success.