Keeping on Top of Information Technologies.

• Author: ROWLEY, LEANNE
• Position: Brief Article

Information Technology is getting so big that those with advanced technology training in specialized fields may soon find themselves needing additional training.

Information Technology is one of America's fastest growing industries, grossing nearly $2 trillion in worldwide sales, according to the Information Technology Association of America. It is an industry that encompasses many of the tools that we take for granted every day--computers, ATMs, software, telecommunications products and services, Internet and online services, systems integration and professional services companies.

In brief, IT refers to processing information by computer and is the latest buzzword for the information processing industry. IT makes it possible for you to read the magazine you hold in you hands, to telecommute from your home office, and to turn on the seat warmers in your car.

The IT industry began with a few companies that produced software and hardware products and customer IT shops. Remember Wang? Training for IT jobs came from traditional university computer science degrees and revolved around advanced technological skills. Today's IT professional may or may not possess highly specialized skills since IT has grown to include everyday tools, such as data management, decision support and networking, as well as more sophisticated technology.

Since the early 1980s, IT has moved from the basement mainframe to the desktop PC. With the advent of personal computers, most employees have had to develop at least rudimentary word processing or data management skills. To manage increased productivity, IT has also advanced the result of progresses made in manufacturing technology.

It is no longer enough to have administrative workers handling mail, inputting orders and answering phones. New technology had to be developed that could keep up with the increased product volume. The evolution of computer technology in production required the evolution of information technology. If automobiles were to be technology driven, then someone had to be able to set up software to run them. Once these automobiles were driven off the showroom floor, service people had to have the programming technology and skills to repair them.

Advances in information technology require advances in IT training. Resources for acquiring this training have become numerous; however, the route to acquiring the training and the decision about which specific training to acquire or provide is not always...