|
| Recent
Articles |
Better IT Management For Banks Points To EDM
The McKinsey Quarterly just published Better IT management for banks (subscription required). A nice little summary of some research into the IT operations of banks around the world. The report concludes that, rather than traditional IT concerns such as scale and the...
Online Communities + Google = Value
A survey of technical professionals shows a startling level of reliance on Web communities by IT professionals. The report from King Research includes these key findings: - 93% claim that they do their jobs more efficiently and save time by using IT communities to solve...
Evil Hack Discovered On Apple's IPhone
SpiLabs has identified an Apple IPhone hack that will allow someone to either own your phone, put it in an infinite loop, or otherwise jack up your phone bill by repeatedly calling 1-900 numbers, and you bet bet, it is all based on the vulnerabilities found in safari.
The GPL & VCs
A few weeks ago Slashdot was abuzz with the question Does GPL v3 Alienate Developers? The question was partly driven by William Hurley's post that questioned the value of GPL v3 in an age where developers seek permissive licenses. I haven't thought a great deal...
Two Kinds Of Data - Dynamic And Persistent
Last month I explained my theory of why we're so screwed up infrastructure-wise or at least how we got to this point. This month I'll try to show you the way out of the situation. For a few minutes, forget everything you know or at least everything you think you know.
My First ITIL V3 Presentation
I attended a training/consulting firm presentation recently on ITIL v3, one of many I anticipate I'll be sitting through. A couple of random thoughts: The presenter stated that the lifecycle focus of v3 should help those involved in the software development...
|
|
08.21.07
IT - The Machine Has No Soul
 By Steve Duplessie
The reason the human will always be required at some relevant level in the implementation and use of computing technologies is pretty simple - the computer can execute a codified series of events much faster and more consistent than any human, but it can't write a song.
The ability to create - not "think" - is what separates us from the Duo-Core next door. The issue is our society values the Duo more than the Doo-Wop.
I went to see one of my favorite bands, Steely Dan, recently. They are one of the more talented batch of folks you might ever see - from a few (2) guys ability to even conceive of a song to begin with, to being able to layer on many other elements musically which individually might be interesting - but holistically form pure brilliance. I can't see a machine ever writing a song.
So Steely Dan, with it's primary driving creative genius at the helm, had about 10 backing musicians. Each was absolutely amazing in their craft. Each may have been among the top 10 on the planet capable of performing at that level. Each probably made about $50,000 a year. Each could have been replaced by a machine at any moment.
It sucks, but that's kind of like IT (except rarely in IT do I see smoking hot backup singers). The systems we build are superb at executing the tasks we tell them to execute - but those tasks require the creative genius of the strategic human who can "see and hear" what the symphony should be - and we don't value those strategic maestro's of IT in our society - so we end up with well meaning supporting musicians trying to keep up with the whims of guy who owns the place instead of being encouraged to express the creativity we posses. And then we try to automate or outsource those guys too.
IT guys range from the best contract musician in the band to pure road crew. It is very rare that a true IT maestro is allowed to practice their craft - not without lots of "patrons of the arts" being willing to dole out lots of dough simply because they believe it is important. While history is littered with examples of world changing genius, from Mozart to Joe Strummer, why is it there are only a handful of IT types who have been allowed to perform? Beethoven didn't need to develop the piano - he simply mastered its use. The CIO doesn't have to develop the next core - they need to conceive and create a better way to harmoniously use the instruments at their disposal to create magic. The Web 2.0 movement, with all it's ramifications, screams for creative new leadership in IT. It is sort of like we are leaving the Disco and Techno era's - people can't take stupid much longer.
It has happened. How many Google's, Amazon's, MySpace's, etc. do you need to see change the world to see that they were not simply lucky? IT IS the business in the new world order - but you ain't gonna be anything but a hack lounge band if you don't hire a maestro to see it - and then encourage and support them. Maybe an acid trip will loosen you up to the possibilities.
Side Note: You know you are old when the shows you enjoy are the same that you enjoyed 20 years ago - with reverse metrics. 20 Years ago at a Steely Dan show there was much more hair than money, but today it's the exact opposite. It was a sea of 40 something bald men in Gucci shoes. At least there were smoking hot backup singers.
Comments
About the Author:
Steve Duplessie is the author of the "Steve's IT Rants" blog, and the founder and Sr. Analyst of the Enterprise Strategy Group.
|
