IT Workforce Trends: Implications for Curriculum and Hiring

A panel on workforce trends in the information technology industry was held at the AMCIS meeting in Toronto, Canada, in August 2008. Panelists discussed a continuing research project about the current state of the IT workforce and future trends, sponsored by the Society for Information Management (SIM). The initial phase was a study of workforce trends in IT client companies, completed in 2006. Results from phase one revealed a shift in the mission of the information system function from delivering technology-based solutions to managing the process of delivering solutions. Client-facing capabilities were found to be critical to this mission as well as business and project-management capabilities. Phase two examined workforce trends in IT provider companies. Results indicate that provider firms are also seeking client-facing capabilities, project management and business domain knowledge over technical capabilities. Panelists compared the results of the two phases and the implications for curriculum design, hiring, and training practices. The results of this research underline a looming crisis in several areas: 1) graduates who are not trained in areas that the marketplace is seeking; 2) thin pipeline for specific technical skills; 3) increasing pressure to source IT capability; and 4) lag in university responsiveness to the needs of the marketplace

The Information Technology Workforce: Trends and Implications 2005-2008

In 2005, a team of researchers sponsored by the Society for Information Management Advocacy program interviewed senior executives in Information Technology (IT) departments about their current and future workforce trends and skill requirements. This paper presents the results of that research: more organizations are increasing their in-house IT staffs than are decreasing them. IT executives say it is critical to own business and project management skills, and they seek these skills in their mid-level hires. The use of offshore workers is increasing, primarily through domestically headquartered providers. Technical skills are more likely to be externally sourced, but they are also sought in entry-level hires. The study points out the challenge of transforming technically skilled entry-level hires into mid-level IT managers with strong business and project management skills, given current IT recruiting and hiring trends. It also highlights the need for practitioner-academic collaboration to ensure appropriate development of IT professionals throughout their careers