In many companies, managers don’t care about the technical stuff – only what they see on screen. That is quite tough for IT professionals, who put a lot of time into getting their qualifications. You then start work and have to get used to the idea that your colleagues, including managers, don’t care about that – they just need things to work. They don’t want a discussion about the details.

Yet managers have to take more responsibility for knowing about IT. The way that IT departments are structured is crucial to getting the best results for the business.

Managers should be doing things such as seating technical people next to those carrying out other business functions to improve better understanding. I think the problem is worse in larger companies where departments operate in relative isolation.

My current employer, the Peabody Trust, employs a much more collegiate approach, where managers and IT professionals work together effectively on solutions.

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WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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