Are companies downsizing their IT department?

[dennisbbb]

With computers being so cheap to replace, and software being so stable, and mostly remote controlled support. Are Techs needed less and less? Are IT departments shrinking or downsizing? What's the current trend we're seeing?

 

[franklin97355]

Techs are used less, IT is outsourcing, the trend is called a downturn.

The answer is "42

 

[Grenage]

I wouldn't say so. As computers being cheaper, companies are more likely to utilize them more.

It is quite possible that I.T roles in general are changing, though. With more of the aforementioned stable software, companies may be able to get away with basic trainees or a single 'Jack of all trades'. It's cheap to outsource those 'tricky' jobs.


Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[dennisbbb]

I am seeing more users having two computers instead of one, but we are not hiring more support techs. We are also experiencing less calls, since the daily routine for the users are just that.. routine. That's why I'm wondering if you guys are seeing this trend in your IT departments.

Since "downturn" is mentioned, I'm wondering what will it take to see the next "upturn", to make this post more interesting..

 

[LadySlinger]

I think as more and more people begin to become comfortable with computers, the less there is need for support techs. We will still always have them, but they just won't be as abundent as before.

I think in order to get it back up again there would have to be a major change in the I.T world...essencially something to replace the desktop.

 

[zeitghost]

It's just commodity stuff these days... (

 

[Auger282]

No this is not the trend.

However.. groups are getting downsized and replaced with people who know what they are doing.

 

[langleymass]

Is the answer really "42"?

 

[zeitghost]

Yup.

42 is the Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

The tricky part is finding the right question... )

I blame the white mice.

 

[GwydionM]

Where I work, the number of people is pretty stable. A sensible company will use new technology to provide better information, more accessable and more readable screens.

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An old man who lives in the UK

 

[GwydionM]

The big trouble with 'outsourcing' is that they want to do the minimum of work, meet their contractual obligations but if it isn't good, so what? When it is in-house, there is some common feeling, as well as a certainty you will still be working with those people for years to come.

------------------------------
An old man who lives in the UK

 

[Kjonnnn]

Mine went from 4 to 1.

 

[SamBones]

I think the answer probably depends on company size and industry. I work for a VERY large company (55k+ employees) in a very competitive and growing industry. We have a huge IT staff and have a lot of openings.

We also don't outsource. Things that are the most commonly outsourced like phone support is all done in-house. That's because in our industry good customer server is a big factor in keeping customers happy and keeping them from going to a competitor. We consider our call centers part of our competetive advantage.

 

[jsaxe]

42? How fortuitous...

jsaxe

Mundus Vult Decipi

 

[langleymass]

42" is forty-tuitous.

 

[svanels]

I am seeing more users having two computers instead of one

huh..? Then your company has a lot of money and supermen/women

I am one of the "strange birds" in our nest because I have two monitors on my desk. The computer has matrox dual video card, and when I "moved", I took the computer with me.
Funny the look on the face of someone coming in for the first time in my office, trying to detect the second keyboard/mouse and computer

Steven

 

[zeitghost]

I used to do that eons ago with a MDA and an EGA monitor.

Cool. Especially for CAD.

Text on the MDA and graphics on the EGA.

2Mb of memory was a lot then...

 

[dennisbbb]

I'm sorry to say dumb users cannot "multitask" well.. so to compensate, they get a second computer. It's sad but very true. Right on the money part.

 

[svanels]

Dennis you are worried about your employment? You are sitting on a gold mine!!!

by the way, I got one computer for excel, one for word, one for lotus notes, and a special server to hack PDF documents.

I wished I had bosses like that, the guy who authorizes the purchase, on how many computers he works on simultaneously?

Once a guy who had "accidentaly" seen the corporate "computer/server" list, came in my office to complain about how much money was wasted on IT. "We have more computers than employees!!, I did the calculations, money that MGMT could invest in our salary, the are throwing away in gadgets, while we are sweating our b.."
I silently showed him the 3-port linksys print server and explained that it was a computer also

Steven

 

[dennisbbb]

We have MORE toys than users - provided, they are not new but an evolutionary line of computers. I guess when the company makes tons of money, computer equiptments are simply "office supplies". We have a different mentality here, that users are "our customers" and should be treated with high respects, regardless how incompetent they are in computers, as long as they keep "their" customers happy, they get a second computer, a blackberry handheld + cellphone, Treo, whatever is the trend.

At the same time, some techs left, and these positions never refilled since there is no need; thus, this post.