Dial tone

Here’s a link to an article by Tim OReilly.

Tim describes the progression of technology over the last few decades. He quotes Michael Crichton who wrote about the concern over rapid the growth of telephones in the ’40’s. AT&T estimated they’d run out of operators if they didn’t hire everyone on the planet to work as a phone operator. With the introduction of electronic phone switching that is in essence what was done.

PCs and software like spreadsheets and desktop databases make operators out of regular folks. In the past we needed computer operators, programmers and analysts. Many of those technical roles evolved to enablers. The cost/benefit isn’t there to continue to need the technical operators role.

So in order for technology to continue to provide the best benefits my role has to evolve. I have to give up the technology that I’ve mastered and move to the next challenge. That’s the reason why I’m not keen on growing the I.S. department. Power users and others are filling roles now that I had earlier. They understand the business needs better than another I.S. person or even myself.

Having more I.S. folks seems to impede the growth of folks who could actually do a better job.