What does new technology and the impact it has on how we do business really mean for IT staff and their skills? 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. by Marc Cecere. Related content opinion 2012 EA Award Winners: Business-Focused, Strategic And Pragmatic In Forrester’s EA Practice Playbook, we describe high performance enterprise architecture programs as ‘business-focused, strategic and pragmatic”. They are business-focused so that the direction and guidance EA provides has By Forrester Research Oct 08, 2012 3 mins Enterprise Architecture IT Strategy IT Leadership opinion Focus Your Information Strategy On Business Impact Today's organizations must manage the explosive growth of all types of information while addressing greater-than-ever business demand for insights into customer needs and the business environment. Meanwhile, the significant regulatory and compli By Forrester Research Oct 01, 2012 6 mins Regulation IT Leadership opinion Digital Disruption: What Software Dev & Delivery Competencies Matter? In this age of digital disruption and a society empowered by software-fueled technology, firms that can cultivate competencies in software development & delivery will establish competitive advantage as they will be better equiped to meet, and exc By Forrester Research Sep 14, 2012 3 mins Developer Enterprise Applications IT Leadership opinion Can IT Open New Sources Of Revenue? At an IT strategy offsite a senior director of IT asked this simple question: "How can we use information technology to help our company open up new streams of revenue?" A refreshing question, given that nine out of ten CIOs ask the opposit By Forrester Research Aug 31, 2012 4 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe