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Multi-skilling is the way to go

Jill Hamlyn
By Jill Hamlyn, Managing Director
Johannesburg, 02 Nov 2000

I believe that now, more than ever, mixing business and technical skills is becoming almost an imperative requirement within the IT industry.

There is a proliferation of careers that fall within the definition of IT, but are not strictly technological.

Jill Hamlyn, MD, The People Business

Hardware and software aside, it is just good business sense and a highly prudent approach to career management to have more than one skill. Other than for pure technical development and support specialists, the saying "jack of all trades, master of none" does not apply for the majority of career openings within the IT field.

This trend can be seen worldwide. Although there is, and always will be, rapid technological change and a marketplace that is becoming increasingly global in nature during the past 10 years, additional non-technical skills have become a mandatory part of the professional portfolio. Both here in SA and overseas, the market is experiencing a natural shift in bringing business and technology closer together.

Skill adaption

An understanding of business principles, strategic planning skills, the application of technological skills to business practice and various personal skills are now vital to supplement the pure technological-based skills. Not only is the business environment demanding a skill adaptation, but these skills can lead on to multiple career paths in business that may be extraneous to a purely IT approach.

This has been found by researchers from a South African university, who revealed that business skills especially have been identified as a significant new area of knowledge in IT. This is due in part to a changed organisational structure that places an emphasis on teams, as well as an accent on creating an awareness of business value in corporations.

There is now a proliferation of careers that fall within the definition of IT, but are not strictly technological. In my opinion, in order for South African corporations to compete and excel in the international marketplace, the right people for the job need to be employed.

Every employer knows that the hiring of unsuitable candidates can be a very expensive exercise in terms of money and time. The other side of the coin comprises those people who find that, as the field of IT makes giant and rapid strides towards the future, so their skills become obsolete or under-utilised.

In demand

It is therefore recommended that the traditional IT skills be supplemented. Deciding what with and how is probably the most difficult exercise for the uninformed. Problem-solving skills are a definite asset and will be fundamental to the success of an employee or contractor in the marketplace. Communications, managerial and leadership abilities are also highly in demand.

Basic business skills combined with strategic thinking are also high on the list for those companies that are currently focusing on future survival and adaptation of their current environments.

Again, the research bears this out, acknowledging that most people in IT have a formal qualification, be it a B.Comm in Computer Science or an MCSE.

The challenge that has been identified is to keep informed regarding workplace trends and constantly update perceptual and creative skills, verbal communication skills, people skills, decision-making skills and responsiveness to new information skills. This may seem like a tall order, but the results will be well worth the effort.

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