Commoditised IT

IT practioners see themselves as specialists in an area that is hard. Outside the industry IT is seen more and more as a commodity. Alongside this commoditisation we see the rise of pervasive computing, more and more people connected to each other via smaller and smaller devices. Once something becomes pervasive you don't tend to pay attention to it.

This has to effect the industry. There is constant pressure on costs and raging debates about the benefits of a CIO in 'non-IT' businesses along with the dissoloution of IT departments in favour of outsourced teams (badged or otherwise). Why have in-house knowledge, it's a commodity - like buying a hair dryer.

So there is an opportunity - whilst there remains a difference between the perception of IT as a commodity and the actuality[1] there may be an increasing need for specialists who can unpick the mess generated from false impressions of ITs state.

[1] I am entirely unconvinced that IT as a whole exhibits the characteristics of a commodity.