Prospects n Challenges for IT Manager

According to Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), IT is defined as “the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.”

Information Technology Management is concerned with exploring and understanding IT as a corporate resource that determines both the strategic and operational capabilities of the firm in designing and developing products and services for maximum customer satisfaction and corporate productivity, profitability and competitiveness.

The role of an IT manager is to develop new ideas into solutions with the optimum use of available resources for the satisfaction of customer. He is responsible for integrating the company’s operational capabilities so as to make the company capable of delivering the services it has promised to the market. Companies appoint IT Managers as IT support to various roles such as financial management, services management, business/IT alignment, corporate governance etc. Thus, IT Manager is required to have knowledge of all the application areas.

The only thing which is constant is change and the rapid change in IT industry has increased the complexity of IT management. There are many factors responsible for the rapid change but few of these factors have been recognised to be contributing majorly:

· Vendor Neglect

· Vendor Oversell

· Acquisition Dilemma

· Support Burden

· Resistance

· Cascading Needs

· New Integration

· Errors

· Training Demands

These barricades are regularly faced by an IT manager in its profession. There are regular neglects on part of the vendors. Sometimes vendors promise to deliver more than they can, for the desire of more earnings. There are regular fluctuations in the market demand. Errors are integral part of any process. There needs to be quality assurance at every step of the process. Sometimes there are internal conflicts which are harmful for the company’s reputation. Also, regular training of the employees to keep them update with the latest trends in technology is necessary.

IT Managers should give careful thought to the fact that problems need to be encountered. Anticipating and planning for them can help avoid project delays and budget overruns.