IT pros called to become 'business savvy'

Business leaders and IT experts are disputing an emerging trend in the UK that freelance technologists must be "business savvy" in order to remain competitive on the contract and offshore outsourcing market.



Ongoing demand from domestic and offshore clients indicates a preference for IT recruits to display a level of business intelligence to complement their technical expertise.



According to IT recruitment specialist, Parity, such a demand has already begun to shape some of the industry's most traditional skill-orientated roles in the UK public sector.



Alan Rommel, Director of the group's IT government division, told CUK that one "key" reason is that organisations need staff who can bolster relations with private sector partners.



"We have seen an increasing demand for more commercially minded Project Managers and Business Analysts," said Mr Rommel.



"Certainly, within the Public Sector, the business skills to ensure strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with the Private sector organisations is key."



He added that just as the tighter budgets of the dotcom bust enforced a move away from "technology for technology's sake," now there is now a similar pattern emerging.



"Improvements are being made for the good of the business rather than driven by the possibilities of technology, with market leadership measured in profits rather than infrastructure."



Parity recruitment also said they are developing a 'procurement expertise' market to help professionals in the selection and management of large outsourcing deals.



One US outsourcer, Parasoft, told CUK that the call for business savvy IT professionals was loudest among international outfits seeking software programmers or reliable third-party suppliers.



"In my experience, firms are maintaining contractors and permanent workers who are business savvy and know how software connects to their business," said Parasoft CEO, Dr Adam Kolawa.



"The flip-side is that many outsourcing firms are trying to get rid of the culture of 'straight programming' by retaining those IT workers who can 'think outside of the box.'



"In medical devices for example, programmers have to understand the real world practicalities of the device they are developing, not just the straight programming according to specification," said Kolawa.



The California-based company, which has successfully outsourced to France and Poland, says programmers face the risk of misunderstanding specifications but can avoid failure, if they are "savvy enough by experience in the field."



Dr Kolowa explains:" You cannot be a good programmer without having knowledge in the field; you cannot finish tech training school and call yourself an IT professional until you've experienced the industry first hand, it's sort of a 'back to basics strategy' for companies looking to hire the best available technical expertise."



He said that the search for business savvy IT workers has set his software company on track for an eastern course, "not so much for lower cost but for the raw talent."



"In Russia, there is a tradition of very tough mass schooling and a competitive and vigorous science/technology base. This has attracted very skilled people who are very well trained on solving problems - and this a core skill for a business savvy IT worker.



"It is the ability of an IT programmer to get deep into a problem and solve it creatively, while keeping in mind the bigger business picture. It's very important for programmers to acquire this skill."



But Dr Kolawa warns that the theoretical excellence found in Russia does not instantly translate to commercial success.



"Out of the seven Russian IT workers we took to Poland, most showed us that they are too abstract and too theoretical; they have no practical experience and cannot immediately apply what they know to reality" he said.



"They solve the problem for the purposes only of solving the problem, and not to find an overall solution that can be applied across the business. Some programmers we brought across were so focused about writing the program that they forgot why and what they are developing the progamme for."



As a result, Parasoft recommends that IT developers ask themselves a checklist of questions to keep track of the business behind IT.



"In short, a business savvy IT contractor always needs to ask: why I am doing this? Is there an easy way to do it? Am I achieving the goal my end client wants me to achieve?



"If not," warns Kolawa, "programmers will be stuck in an IT mindset, where they will be purely delivering for IT and not the business. Programmers become preoccupied - they get into the programme and sit in it - instead of getting out of it and asking some basic checklist questions."



Despite this, Dr Stephen Castell, UK IT consultant of the year, says business know-how for IT professionals should not lead to a decline of 'straight programming' roles but instead, a heightened awareness of modern business technology.



Speaking exclusively to Contractor UK, he said:" All IT professionals need now to be aware of their legal responsibilities in using tried and proven techniques, and best practice, to deliver systems that meet business requirements - are 'of sufficient quality and fit for purpose'.



"If that is what is meant by becoming 'business savvy,' then I am all for it. There are lessons and methods users should be learning and practicing to assure quality systems - and to avoid IT project disasters."



Mr Castell, who is an international expert on how to avoid public sector IT disasters, believes that UK contractors are being sought with a "narrower and narrower focus" on particular technologies, software tools and techniques.



He said: "Put another way, an IT freelancer or contractor will still find it easier to specialise in the 'right' narrow technical area, such as SAP, SAP F1 or ABAP, in terms of getting contract jobs, than broadening out and becoming 'business savvy.'"



For the most senior contractors, the IT consultant recommends a pursuit of "rigorous and robust software engineering and project management."



Meanwhile, he said that as an increasing number of companies incorporate ITC as a central plank of their business model, more opportunities should arise for contracted IT professionals.



"This [trend of greater use of IT in business] ought to lead to an increase in demand for 'business savvy' IT contractors - IT professionals who can readily transfer that core skill reliably across business sectors and applications, and irrespective of the particular technological solution."



Dr Castell argues this would have the "welcome consequence" that IT solutions are business-driven, rather than technology-driven, as suggested by top recruiters Parity.



Although he said he has not noticed such a trend "to any great extent," he believes it would be a bonus - given his estimation that UK PLC faces a bill in 2005 of over £1bn for poor and failed IT implementation.