The Future of Information Technology Careers

After listening to the president in the State of the Union address, America's focus still is on jobs and the large share of unemployed Americans. While the government struggles to find ways to help those without jobs, it seems clear that whether we need analysis, or research, or funding, all planning and resultant success lies on the ability and talents of those in the Information Technology field.

It stands to reason then if allotments of money are given for the re-training of displaced workers, a large portion of dollars should be designated to technology staff improvements.

No matter the project or plan, the determination of success will hinge on the gathering of data (web-development/electronic survey), to the data manipulation (data base management), and to the final analysis and conclusion (statistical analysis/software development and analysis). The current Technology field has some of the most highly skilled development project and program managers, just the skill that is needed to accurately analyze program data and determine necessary modifications to ensure success.

As an Engineering Designer, one master skill is logic and the ability to interpret testing results to improve designs. It seems that is what is lacking in government today. Ideas are plentiful but projections of consequences and accurate analysis even determining the current state of affairs seem to be invalidated.

So, take a majority of highly intelligent IT gurus and replace the politicians that have ideas but seemingly no foundation and no logic, and in turn you will get great plans based on well thought out ideas with a definite result expected and with feed-back intervals to allow for adjustments to ensure perfect results.

And if a program is less than successful (which rarely would happen) at least there would be perfect documented analysis (as opposed to participants' lack of recall as to what happened).

So the perfect plan for the 'Next' Stimulus Package would be the training and funding of Information Technology super humans to make sure the government has the ability to be successful and the ability to interpret data to show they actually are successful.

On a more serious note, by providing additional dollars to help finance higher education and repayment reform--so an individual will repay an amount equal to one tenth of his salary over 20 years and the remaining balance will be forgiven--a unique opportunity is being provided to all students, especially in the field of IT, to become specialists, to be the best at what they do, and yes even help change the world.