IT Consltant

Job Description:

In summary

IT consultants perform different roles in different organisations. Broadly, they work with clients to solve their business challenges and improve efficiency through the use of information technology. Consulting offers varied assignments, and can be a fulfilling and exciting field for professionals with the right personal characteristics and skills.

An IT consultant may

*meet with clients to determine requirements, and work with clients to determine what needs to be done
*prepare proposals and tenders
*analyse problems and make recommendations
*be accountable for defined assignments or projects. These often involve immediate action or short term planning of human and other resources
*liaise with staff at all levels of an organisation
*project manage the design and implementation of a chosen solution, ensuring it meets user requirements and are delivered on time
*organising training

What learning areas and study is needed?

*An IT-related bachelor degree
*Business or management training is advantageous
*Many branches of the ACS run a consultant and contractors special interest group, which offers a variety of professional development opportunities in this field

This career would appeal to people who

*possess excellent oral and written communications skills and interpersonal skills
*have an ability to adapt and apply existing techniques and methodologies to new users
*a high standard of ethics and integrity
*effective selling, negotiation, customer management and time management skills
*sound administrative skills and good analytical and reporting abilities
*an understanding of user needs
*can think outside the box

Remuneration and job prospects?

According to the 2006 ACS Remuneration Report, the median base salary for IT Consultants with less than three years experience is $43,000, rising to $112,000 for those with 10 to 15 years experience.
The diverse nature of the IT industry means that career development could entail progression in a number of fields and across sectors. It is predicted that in the future, the job market for 'pure' IT specialists will shrink in favour of individuals carrying out multidisciplinary assignments in more versatile roles. In this environment, the opportunities for career development for IT consultants are immense.

Read rest of entry

IT Auditor

Job Description:

Also called Information Systems Auditor

In summary

IT auditors are involved in designing and monitoring systems to ensure the accuracy and security of an organisation’s data. Their main responsibility is to make certain that the IT system is operating efficiently and in accordance with defined standards and regulations.

An IT auditor may

*analyse information systems to assess their completeness, accuracy, efficiency, and ability to meet business outcomes
*identify areas where both business and IT controls can be improved, and make recommendations for improvement
*participate in new system design to ensure an efficient, effective and well-controlled solution
*evaluate the organisation's computing environment to ensure it has effective operational, *systems software, systems development and security procedures
*assess software and hardware purchases in terms of value for money, efficiency and ability to provide the most effective solution
*check and report on the use of computing facilities
*write reports and recommendations for improving the management of the computing environment

What learning areas and study is needed?

*Degree in IT, commerce or accounting
*CISA certification (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
*Knowledge of management best practices and business-related skills
*Because auditors are responsible for evaluating the recording and safekeeping of assets, it is beneficial if they have a general understanding of accounting principals

This career would appeal to people who

*enjoy working with data and numbers
*have a focus on accuracy and attention to detail
*possess a logical and analytical approach to investigation, identification, analysis and reporting
*have well-developed interpersonal and communication skills
*show leadership capabilities

Read rest of entry

IT architect

Job Description:

Also called IT architect

In summary

Enterprise architects build a holistic view of an organisation’s strategy, processes, information and IT assets. They take this knowledge and ensure the business and IT are aligned. A lot of what an enterprise architect does focuses less on technology, and more on people, processes and the organisation.

An enterprise architect may

*take long-term responsibility for an organisation’s IT systems
*assess and communicate the impacts, trade-offs, risks, costs, benefits and opportunities of IT solutions
*align and/or streamline business processes, IT and business strategy
*develop and implement a strategy for reducing the complexity of information systems in a cost *effective manner, for example by decreasing the number of applications or moving away from legacy systems
*define the architecture and technology standards for all applications and infrastructure across *the organisation, and ensure those standards are published, updated and made widely available.

What learning areas and study is needed?

*Entry to this occupation is generally through technology bachelor degree or higher qualification
*Enterprise Architecture Certification is highly beneficial, such as IT Architect Certification, The *Open Group Architect Framework Certification or a Master of Enterprise Architecture
*Business or management qualification or experience is beneficial
*A primary discipline in IT is important, such as applications development or information systems management

This career would appeal to people who

*are big picture thinkers
*have good interpersonal, leadership, collaboration, facilitation and negotiation skills
*are able to manage conflict
*have excellent communication skills, and can explain complex technical issues in a way that *non-technical people can understand
*have a blend of business acumen, large-scale IT system know-how, governance and operations
*understand any given problem may have many good answers, and asks great questions that *compel further discussion, research, collaboration and innovation
*consider technology in terms of business benefits rather than the technological cool factor
*enjoy constantly expanding their knowledge base, and identifying and being able to form *opinions on emerging trends and technologies

Remuneration and job prospects?

According to the Michael Page Salary Survey 2007/08, enterprise architects earn between $125,000 and $200,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Read rest of entry

IT Sales Represanative

Job Description:

Also called IT Sales Representative, IT Sales and Marketing, Business Development Manager.

In summary

IT account managers sell computer hardware, software, telecommunications and IT services. They can also manage the sourcing and delivery of products to customers.

An account manger may

*consult with clients and potential clients to determine their technology requirements
*prepare sales proposals and tender responses (including costings), and deliver professional presentations
*negotiate major deals
*identify sales prospects
*maintain key customer contacts, service accounts and build account strategies including keeping them informed of *new product developments
*provide after sales support
*participate in product development, marketing and client education activities
*continuously update their knowledge of their own products and those of competitors

What learning areas and study is needed?

*Generally, tertiary qualifications are preferred
*While a particular field if study is not necessarily important, studies in marketing and business will be highly regarded
*Some companies also prefer staff with previous sales, programming or system analysis experience

This career would appeal to people who

*are personable and well presented
*have good communication and presentation skills
*have perseverance
*are able to understand clients’ needs quickly
*are willing to update product knowledge on an ongoing basis
*are able to master a large variety of product specifications and applications
*have strong negotiation, selling and customer service skills

Remuneration and job prospects?

Graduate salaries in this occupation start at around $32,000. According to the ACS 2006 Remuneration Survey, account managers with around 10 years experience earn a median base salary of $120,000. Highly successful account managers can earn up to $300,000 per annum.

According to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ Australian jobs 2006, job prospects for account managers are good, an unemployment is average. Employment growth to 2010 is expected to be strong.

Read rest of entry

IT support/helpdesk

Job Description:

Also called Hardware Technician, IT Support Technician, User Support Specialist

In summary

Help Desk professionals are usually the first point of contact for either external clients or internal customers who require help with problems or queries regarding technical issues.

A help desk professional may

*provide support to end users either over the phone Internet or in person, and solve their computing problems in a timely manner
*monitor equipment for errors or stoppages and take remedial action
*troubleshoot difficult or unusual situations
*undertake back-up and recovery activities
*perform routine maintenance and cleaning of equipment
*document and review processes and procedures
*attend relevant product and skill courses

What learning areas and study is needed?

*Entry is generally through an AQF Diploma or higher qualification or at least three years relevant work experience
*A good understanding of PCs, operating systems, networking and applications

This career would appeal to people who

*are comfortable liaising with customers of varying expertise and seniority
*have excellent problem solving skills and the ability to make decisions independently
*can work well under pressure and can prioritise work
*have good communication and listening skills
*communicating with people with patience, energy and respect
*have the flexibility to work on a rotating shift and on-call
*knowledge of operating systems, hardware operation, leading software, local and wide area networks

Remuneration and job prospects?

Salaries range from $37,000 to $48,000, depending on age and years experience. Job prospects are strong, although people tend to use the role as a stepping stone to their next career step.

Read rest of entry

IT Trainer

In summary

IT Trainers instruct computer users on how to most effectively user their hardware and software. They are also involved in the planning, timing, administration and coordination of training.

An IT Trainer may

*create and maintain course content and training materials
*deliver training courses (either one on one or in group sessions) in various applications and systems
*report on training activities and attendance
*co-ordinate the IT training strategy for their organisation What learning areas and study is needed?
*Computer Science or Computer Engineering university degree, or through an AQF Diploma or higher qualification or at least three years relevant work experience.
*Certificate IV in workplace training and assessment

This career would appeal to people who

*are willing to stay on the leading edge of chosen technical fields, and gaining hands-on experience with the latest technologies
*have good interpersonal skills, are effective communicators, and are able to transfer their knowledge effectively to students
*enjoy developing and writing course materials
*are good public speakers and/or presenters
*can work with minimal supervision
*have a wide variety of real-world experiences that can be described to students
*have patience (to deal with both the slower students, and the know-alls who want to run the class)

Read rest of entry

Information Technology manager

In summary

Information technology managers plan, administer and review the acquisition, development, maintenance and use of computer and telecommunication systems within an organisation. In a large organisation, this position may be called Chief Information Officer.

An IT manager may

*analyse the information needs of an organisation, and develop technology solutions to meet those needs
manage the information technology to ensure it supports the goals of the organisation
provide advice to other senior managers and boards on IT issues and planning
*determine opportunities for improvement of current IT systems, and assess future IT needs by consulting with people at all levels of the organisation
*and implement the IT policy and strategic plan
*the IT department/section/team, and work with them to oversee user training, integrate IT operations with *business, control security aspects of the IT system and integrate or implement new technologies.

What learning areas and study is needed?

*An IT-related degree
*A primary discipline and extensive experience in IT is essential
*In-depth knowledge of administrative procedures such as budgeting, quality assurance and human resources is a *distinct advantage.
*Business or management qualification or experience is beneficial

This career would appeal to people who

*have a sound technical background
*have win/win negotiation and conflict resolution skills
*have excellent communication skills and can explain complex concepts clearly and simply
*have understanding, tolerance and patience when dealing with users, colleagues, management and boards
*exceptional leadership and management skills, and able to influence peers, clients and suppliers
*have experience cultivating relationships
*have personal drive and integrity
*can accept a significant level of responsibility and accountability

Read rest of entry

How to prevent tech sabotage

Three weeks after losing his job as a help-desk employee, David Ernest Everett Jr. launched an attack against his former employer, Wand Corporation, which designs and manages back-office and point-of-sale systems for fast-food franchises. Without even entering the company's headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Everett was able to wreak havoc on the family business and its clients. His weapon? A so-called logic bomb, malicious software code designed to disrupt a company's IT infrastructure or destroy its data.

Companies have long been on guard against the threat of outside hackers, but recent attacks from insiders have some business owners nervously eyeing their own IT workers. An IT contractor who had been fired from Fannie Mae was indicted in January. He allegedly used his company-issued laptop to insert bad code into one of the company's programs on the day he was let go. According to FBI investigators, the logic bomb would have wiped out all of Fannie Mae's servers had it not been discovered in time. "These types of insider attacks happen to businesses of all sizes, from small companies to very large corporations," says Dawn Cappelli, an insider-threat expert at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute.

For Wand Corporation, the warnings about insider threats came too late. Using his old employee login, Everett got access to Wand's computer system and uploaded malicious files to about 1,000 of the company's restaurant management systems across the country. The files, which Everett set to launch when a computer was restarted, were designed to corrupt a restaurant computer's operating system until it was unusable. "When we saw so many systems going down with the same set of circumstances in such a short period of time, we knew it was too big to be a coincidence," says Dave Perrill, Wand's vice president.

Perrill contacted the FBI. "They were at our facility within hours," he says. The bureau helped Wand repair its systems and preserve evidence for a criminal prosecution. All told, Everett's attack destroyed 25 computers. Fixing the mess, including sending new computers to customers via overnight delivery, cost about $49,000. Everett pleaded guilty in federal court in January and faces up to 10 years in prison.

How can companies reduce the likelihood of such inside jobs? "Password management is critical," says Cappelli. After layoffs, companies should immediately eliminate password access for ex-employees and have all remaining employees change their passwords, she says. Cappelli also recommends changing passwords created for training sessions or test accounts. "We've seen disgruntled employees use those kinds of accounts to get back at a company," she says.

At least one person typically needs full access to a company's systems. But experts recommend separating duties when possible. Instead of giving the entire IT staff free rein, clearly define and limit who has access to each system. For example, an engineer who has been hired to maintain your e-mail servers should not have access to the accounting systems.

Given that many insider attacks are a response to what the employee feels is unfair treatment, such as being passed over for a promotion, keep an eye out for behavioral changes, suggests

Arnette Heintze, principal of Hillard Heintze, a Chicago-based security advisory firm. Tip-offs might include frequent arguing with co-workers, making hostile statements about the company's owner, or even eating lunch alone after previously preferring to eat with the group.

Tech-heavy companies that work with sensitive information may find it worthwhile to invest in software designed to detect logic bombs. Applications from companies such as Solidcore Systems and Tripwire will monitor a company's IT systems and flag any suspicious changes. Prices start at about $75 per license for Solidcore and $2,000 per license for Tripwire.

If an employee discovers what appears to be a logic bomb, contact the FBI right away, says Cappelli. Unless your business has a computer forensics specialist on board, company staff members trying to investigate insider sabotage could damage key evidence needed to identify and prosecute the culprit.

After its bad experience, Wand Corporation has gotten more savvy. Now, for instance, passwords of ex-employees are deleted immediately, and several of the company's employees perform periodic system audits to look for vulnerabilities. "We've undergone a bit of a paradigm shift in terms of focusing on internal threats," says Perrill. "Obviously, we've learned from this experience."

Read rest of entry

What is HST?(Health Science &Technology)

From the beginning, HST pioneered a new way of thinking about the very processes that govern life and disease, breaking down barriers that impede interdisciplinary education and collaborative research and creating an environment that brings innovation from the laboratory bench to the bedside, and clinical insight from the bedside to the bench.
HST students work with eminent faculty from throughout the Harvard and MIT communities; and are trained to have a deep understanding of engineering, physical sciences and the biological sciences, complemented with hands-on experience in the clinic or industry. Students become conversant with the underlying quantitative and molecular aspects of medicine and biomedical science.

HST's research enterprise leverages the extraordinary resources of Harvard and MIT, as well as those of its affiliated teaching hospitals and research centers, to train scientists who are committed to exploring the fundamental principles underlying health and diseases, and who are seeking new pharmaceuticals and devices to alleviate human suffering.

HST's research initiatives build on interdisciplinary areas that focus on advancing improvements in human health. HST has three targeted focus areas:
*Biomedical Imaging;
*Biomedical Infomatics and Integrative Biology; and
*Regenerative and Functional Biomedical Technologies.

Read rest of entry

Information Technology

If someone told you that they didn't want to be a journalist because they didn't like pens you would think they were very strange. You'd realise that journalism is about investigating and reporting what' s happening in the world - pens are just one of the tools of the trade. So what would you say if someone suggested you worked in IT?

If you are still reading this you have probably just stifled a yawn and pictured a computer in your head. You think IT is boring and you don't want to work with machines, you want to work with people. Think again. Most IT jobs are no more about computers than a journalist's job is about pens. IT is about creating the products and services that we all need to help improve our lives. To do that you need to understand how people live and work and how they want to live and work in the future.

IT is dynamic and exciting and it changes just about everything we do. IT produces the magazines that we read so avidly, it is fundamental to the creation and distribution of music, it is in all the films being made by Hollywood and in the flight planning and security at airports. There are very few industries that don't now rely on IT and they all want people with bright new ideas. Try telling the IT professionals who worked so hard to produce films such as the Matrix, that their job is not creative, or the web designer, or the artistic designer of Cosmopolitan.

The range of jobs in IT is vast and there is something to suit everyone. Some are very creative and some are highly technical. They can be broadly summarised as software developers, systems operators, sales professionals, training professionals, helpdesk support, technicians /engineers, web designers, technical authors and business analysts. But within those broad headings the actual job roles can be very different. For instance an engineer can work on retail computer systems in your local high street, or she or he can be working on weather watching systems in a plane many miles above the ground. So whatever your interests there's bound to be something in IT for everyone.

The number of jobs is also vast. There are now twice as many people working in IT as there are teachers and this figure is set to double over the next 5 years. Some IT companies are cutting back on people at the moment but this downturn is not expected to last. When it starts to boom again the growth is likely to be spectacular as we look to IT to solve new problems and create ever more exciting entertainment.

In most IT jobs you will work closely with customers. Employers therefore place just as much emphasis on interpersonal skills as IT skills. IT employers don't want "techies" they want people who can understand and relate to their customers, have very good interpersonal skills, have good communications skills, are able to think creatively and can work in teams. Much of the work requires innovative thinking to find IT solutions to everyday problems and challenges. Staffs usually work in project teams where individuals rely heavily on each other. If you can show you are enthusiastic about IT, many employers will train you from scratch in the technical skills. However coming to them with some technical skills already is obviously a bonus. It shows you have the capacity to learn the skills they need.

IT careers are fast changing. IT knowledge and expertise moves on all the time, so employers are looking for people who are willing to adapt and change to meet the changing needs.

I have left the best bit to the end. The 2000 UK Graduate Careers Survey found that computer scientists earned an average £18,000 in 2000. This represented a growth in salary of 6% year on year. Graduates in the whole sample earned an average £15,000. In other words computer scientists earned 20% more than graduates in the whole sample. Many IT employers actively recruit graduates without relevant degrees, they will train you, and you could expect to be earning more than £35,500 within 5 years.

At the moment the majority of IT professionals are men, women hold only 20% of jobs. This should serve to encourage more women in IT. It's often easier for women to make an impact and many of the most successful IT professionals are female. How can IT companies create the products and services to suit the 50% of its customers who are female if women are not part of the process? Do we really want our future designed exclusively by men? It is no surprise then companies are so keen to have more women join them.

Read rest of entry

Career in Information Technology

The information technology field is expanding at an exponential rate, and there is no better time for you to be part of it. There are virtually unlimited career opportunities, and a huge range of types of business in which your computer skills can be utilized. Banking, film production, forestry, mining, health, manufacturing, engineering, management consulting – practically every industry uses computers and needs people to manage, use, network or program them.

Technical skills are also very portable, which makes a career in information technology very attractive to people who like to experience different cultures. You can take your Java training or C++ to any country in the world.

People going into IT now are intelligent, interesting, creative, pragmatic, ambitious, innovative, fun and motivated. Many already have arts or business degrees and after looking at their options, concluded that the available jobs either lacked challenge or rapid advancement. So they did some basic research and found that one of the best places to get a rewarding, well-paying career was information technology.

Read rest of entry

Mobiles

In today’s market, mobile phone is a matter of pride and dignity and bought by almost all classes. Mobile signifies security and communication and on other hand it is the best companion during solitary moments. Therefore mobile technology requires constant up gradation to keep the customers satisfied and make the mobile market stronger than ever before.

Why Mobile Application Development?
*You may wish to build applications for GSM or 3G networks, for that purpose Mobile Application Development is indispensable.
*Since most of us have the idea that in today's market, 2 billion SMS messages per month are not enough. Therefore for more, one can adopt Mobile Application Development.
*Some people may also wish to have sample code for reality-based applications for which Mobile Application Development is necessary.
*There are people who wish to add mobile extensions to your software products and corporate network. For that Mobile Application Development is mandatory.
*If the customer wants to manufacture smart cards or create smart card applications then Mobile Application comes with a clutch on the olive branches.
*If you seek reliable answers on 3G programming interfaces and toolkits the also, Mobile Application Development is necessary.
*Mobile Application Development would provide you the guidance on SIM application design, integration, or management for any platform
*If you prefer to avoid others' mistakes, then you can easily go for mobile application development.

Read rest of entry

Our Aim

One of the broadest subcategories, our information technology articles give you introduction on IT and its related fields and subjects. Read on and discover how you can enhance your skills in computer and the technology associated with it.

Gather advanced information about the future of IT like the upcoming new processor generations. Know the essential skills to become an “ethical hacker”. Start your IT career with the all-inclusive hardware maintenance software.

Read rest of entry

Information Technology Management

The definition of Information Technology Management, derived from the definition of Technology Management is as follows:
Information Technology Management is concerned with exploring and understanding Information Technology as a corporate resource that determines both the strategic and operational capabilities of the firm in designing and developing products and services for maximum customer satisfaction, corporate productivity, profitability and competitiveness.
IT Management is a different subject from Management Information Systems. Management Information Systems refer to information management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision making. IT Management, as stated in the above definition, refers to the IT related management activities in organizations. MIS as it is refered to is focus mainly on the business aspect with a strong input into the technology phase of the business/organisation.

Read rest of entry

Information System And its Development

In a broad sense, the term Information Systems (IS) refers to the interaction between people, processes, and technology. This interaction can occur within or across organizational boundaries. An information system is not only the technology an organization uses, but also the way in which the organization’s people interact with the technology and the way in which the technology works with the organization’s business processes. Information systems are distinct from information technology in that an information system has an information technology component that interacts with the people and processes components.

Information technology departments in larger organizations tend to strongly influence information technology development, use, and application in the organizations, which may be a business or corporation. A series of methodologies and processes can be used in order to develop and use an information system. Many developers have turned and used a more engineering approach such as the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which is a systematic procedure of developing an information system through stages that occur in sequence. An Information system can be developed in house (within the organization) or outsourced. This can be accomplished by outsourcing certain components or the entire system.
A computer based information system, following a definition of Langefors, is:
a technologically implemented medium for recording, storing, and disseminating linguistic expressions,
as well as for drawing conclusions from such expressions.
which can be formulated as a generalized information systems design mathematical program.

Read rest of entry

Practical and Professional IT

While the history of IT is interesting, the content in the history is not balanced with any discussion of current practices.There is an entire science of managing information technology within organizations (commercial, government, non-profit). Why is none of the high-level content from that science present in this article? To whit, I'm thinking that we need to describe notions of portfolio management, technology management, support management, organizational structures, legal and ethical issues, and even well-understood roles within the profession. It is embarrassing to think that the profession in which I've devoted my career is represented through such a shoddy article!I also question whether it is rational to set aside a section just for ICT. While I believe ICT to be an interesting article in its own right, I do not believe that the formation and history of educational curriculum in the UK to be core to the topic of Information Technology. It doesn't do either topic justice. --Nickmalik 16:18, 20 February 2007 (UTC).

Read rest of entry

Information Technology

Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information.

Today, the term information technology has ballooned to encompass many aspects of computing and technology, and the term has become very recognizable. IT professionals perform a variety of duties that range from installing applications to designing complex computer networks and information databases. A few of the duties that IT professionals perform may include data management, networking, engineering computer hardware, database and software design, as well as the management and administration of entire systems.

Read rest of entry