The information age has made computers and the proper management of information technology of crucial importance to the success of business. A smoothly-running IT department is crucial to a company of any significant size, as the flow of information necessary to compete becomes larger, faster and more complex. A study by IBM of mid-size companies in 17 countries found information management was listed by the most respondents as the critical priority for IT departments. The goals set by companies included increasing efficiency and productivity and making better use of the information they had. The study found that despite the difficult economy and the pressure to cut back on expenses, most companies were maintaining or even increasing their computer and IT budgets, focusing on how smart use of the resources in the IT department can generate savings elsewhere in the company. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job prospects for careers in computer and information technology should be excellent. With a predicted growth rate of 16 percent from 2006-2016, the number of jobs available in these fields is estimated to grow to 307,000 by that time.  |