By Steve Ranger, 28 September 2006 15:50
NEWS
The "kids" are more likely to bring chaos and cyber-slacking into corporate IT departments, rather than a transfusion of innovation and enthusiasm, according to silicon.com readers.
Futurologist Peter Cochrane provoked a hot debate earlier this week with his keynote address at the silicon.com CIO Forum when he claimed young people are a disruptive force in business and will bring about the demise of the IT department as we know it.
When young people come into the workforce they don't want to be told by an IT department which hardware and software they can and can't use, he explained, and so the corporate IT departments will go "the way of the typing pool".
But many silicon.com readers didn't accept this vision of the future.
Many warned the only thing kids will create is chaos. silicon.com reader and computer consultant BillK said: "Has Peter Cochrane ever had a look at the tech swamp these techie youngsters produce at college or university? Virus and malware run rampant, illegal software everywhere, servers full of illegal music and films, porn collections... "
As reader Andrew Robb pointed out: "Unfortunately, many so-called tech-savvy youngsters run their own PCs riddled with malware and violated copyright material."
Another reader exclaimed: "I think I will employ a 16 yr old kid and ask him to transfer my SAP system to his iPod."
But software developer Anthony Hunt said the problem isn't with the kids - but the IT department's poor service for all users: "The more realistic concept is that intelligent users, ever more IT literate - regardless of age, will get fed up with the lousy service from their IT department and find ways to work around them or without them."
Others were less convinced by Cochrane's optimistic view of tech-savvy kids, with one saying children know less about technology than they did a few years back.
One reader pointed out: "Yes the hoodie-clothed youth-of-today is tech-savvy, in that they can text and MSN at the same time, can rip anything to an iPod, get ever-increasing hi-scores on Xbox/PS2, but that doesn't make them IT material. They are users of consumer products, not creators of it."
At least, as one anonymous correspondent pointed out: "That will make sure that IT professionals are in work for years to come sorting out the short sighted and ill researched 'fixes' these people are free to use."
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. jsaltz
Kids and IT = an abomination. IT ain't their thing. 'nuff said.
2. Ian Paterson
Generation Y has been spliced with technology into Generation iPod. It's kind of Matrixesque having their brains plugged into the 'net 24/7.
Their use of technology is not trained or taught so no wonder they run riot. The world is at their fingertips.
Kids and IT is our future. Boyed!
3. Rob Garner
IT departments don't understand technology - in the same way car mechanics don't understand racing drivers. Technology can be really really difficult - and the user can pick it up wring its neck and say "not fast enough mate! - doesn't do what I need".
I'm with the users.
4. Paul Brindle
According to the news today it won't be a problem because young people can't read a map or follow directions, so they won't get to work to need IT help..
5. Ant Evans
There is an ancient tradeoff between innovation and stability. It is not unique to IT. But the distinction between kids and greybeards in IT departments is not the interesting distinction for us. The interesting distinction is between people who love to solve technical problems and people who love to solve business problems. That conflict will continue. However, every now and again, someone comes along who can do both. In the process, they can make your industry obsolete. The early stages of that process always look like the chaos some of you are describing. So I'd pay chaos a bit more respect.
6. Theodore Odeluga
Everyone's afraid of getting old and replaced to some degree but the point to remember is that everyone has something to offer.
Youngsters can offer creativity and innovation and older workers can offer wisdom and experience.
It might be worth pointing out (as another commenter alluded to) that the creation of new technology actually requires more knowledge, wisdom and experience than creativity.
Non technical people can come up with great ideas but it's those who have in depth scientific knowledge (which can only be learned over time) who can actually make it happen.