Entice older workers, combat 'brain drain'

09/02/08

It's no secret that corporations will face a talent shortage when scores of Baby Boomers retire in the coming years. However, steep inflation and poor investment performance may work in your favor in enticing aging employees to postpone retirement or stay on part-time to keep Cobol and other legacy systems running.

RFID deployment ramps up

08/26/08

Interest in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is on the rise, according to the results of a study from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Top technologies to watch

08/19/08

What technologies are you eyeing over the next few years? According to new research from Gartner, IT leaders should be watching several for deployment in their organizations in two to five years.

Videoconferencing on the rise for corporate communication

08/12/08

Remember the days when communicating with colleagues always involved walking down the hall? Now voicemail and e-mail are the norm and companies are tapping newer forms of technology to improve communications with employees, according to a new report from IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology.

Network talent needed

08/05/08

A new Whitepaper from IDC sponsored by the Cisco Learning Institute shows a shortage of network professionals could be here as early as 2011.

Printing green

07/29/08

Most IT organizations have already begun to focus on green computing technologies to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs. While most concentrate their efforts on the data center, printers and consumables are one area where organizations can reduce waste too. Small changes can make a difference.

IT and the presidential election

07/22/08

No matter which presidential candidate you're backing, you may want to know more about their stance on technology. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) recently released a report that finds Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama both merit an "incomplete" for their overall vision and focus for tech innovation.

Tackling employee performance problems

07/15/08

If any of your IT staffers need to improve their performance, tackle the problem early on before the situation escalates. Few managers want to get to the point where they have to dismiss an employee.

Keep an eye on cloud computing

07/08/08

There's some confusion about what exactly constitutes cloud computing, but one thing experts tend to agree on is the evolutionary effect this will have on IT. A new report from Gartner points to the opportunity to shape the relationship among consumers of IT services, those who use IT services and those who sell them.

Staffing struggles linger

07/01/08

Surprisingly, the faltering economy hasn't given IT leaders much help in finding talented technology pros, according to the results of a recent study by recruitment firm Robert Half Technology. A full 77% of CIOs polled said it is equally or more challenging to find skilled candidates than it was a year ago.

RFID fact and fiction

06/24/08

In an effort to dispel some of the privacy concerns surrounding radio frequency identification technology (RFID), the Information Technology Association of America has issued a white paper covering what the technology is and is not capable of.

Worries abound about reputation

06/17/08

Chief information security officers deem avoiding reputation damage to their companies as their highest priority, according to the results of the 2008 Global Information Security Workforce Study.

10 future technologies

06/10/08

What technologies are you planning to track in the coming years? Gartner has identified 10 disruptive technologies that will shape the IT landscape over the next five years. IT leaders should be evaluating these emerging trends and focus on harnessing these technologies to solve business problems.

Rebounding from a restructuring

06/03/08

The financial services, construction and manufacturing sectors are being hit by the gloomy economy, prompting layoffs. Whatever your industry, it's important to plan how to effectively rebound from a layoff or help former employees find new IT work.

7 steps to effective risk management

05/27/08

When your organization talks about risk management, what does it mean? According to Gartner, many enterprises are inconsistent in the use and application of the term. So it's no surprise that risk management often ends up siloed into separate functional areas such as business continuity, security, management and privacy.

SAP pay soars

05/20/08

IT leaders, take note. It may be challenging to hire SAP specialists, according to the results of Foote Partners skills pay study for the first quarter of 2008.

Advice for venturing into virtualization

05/13/08

Server virtualization is all the rage, but to get the return on investment you're seeking, you've got to make a proper assessment. Gartner offers bet practices to avoid the problems that can plague server virtualization implementation.

Social networks gain momentum with IT professionals

05/06/08

It's no longer just teenagers actively embracing social networking sites. A new study shows that IT professionals are also harnessing the power of social networking.

Retention redux

04/29/08

What do you do to hang on to talented IT staff? According to the results of a recent survey from Robert Half Technology, the most frequently cited method is to show them the money.

Long-term technologies that matter

04/22/08

Looking for the next emerging technologies and how they will affect your business? For those interested in long-term IT planning, Gartner has identified several emerging technologies that will become a force in the next five to 20 years. Such technologies will have broad economic, scientific or societal impact and transform your business, according to Ken McGee, vice president and Gartner fellow.

Managing contractors

04/15/08

Most organizations have to turn to a third party for help with IT needs at some point, whether it's short-term professional staffing to fill a skills gap or handing over desktop support to an outsourcer. But while bringing in contractors can help ease the load, your IT group assumes the responsibility of staying on top of the service provider.

The changing role of the CIO

04/08/08

Up and coming CIOs are those who are flexible, productive and provide visibility into their IT projects, according to a new study from Serena Software.

Security-cleared employees clearing better salaries

04/01/08

If you work for a consulting firm or the defense industry, your IT staffers with security clearance can likely demand higher salaries. A new study from ClearanceJobs.com shows average salaries rose 6% over last year, to $72,803.

Industry outlook for 2008

03/25/08

IT leaders with an eye on the economy may be wondering how their industries are expected to do this year. According to business intelligence researcher IBIS, VoIP subscription growth will boost service provider revenue. In contrast, mortgage and loan brokers are not likely to expand their staffs.

The changing nature of the CIO position

03/18/08

When it's time to hire, you likely seek business skills in prospective IT employees, and your own company's senior executives are no different. If you want to rise in the IT leadership ranks, it's best to have business unit experience outside of IT. This is one of the findings in a report from research firm Gartner.

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Amy Schurr is the former managing features editor of Network World.