Work Effectively in an I.T. Environment

What is I.T.? Information Technology means the collection of products and services that turn data into useful, meaningful, accessible information Information Technology means the collection of products and services that turn data into useful, meaningful, accessible information

I.T. Industry Major facets:  Computer hardware  Software  Services

Global I T Spending Top 10 Nations Per Capita I T Spending ($)

Example - American IT Industry  10.4 million people perform IT jobs  85% of these work for small companies  14,00 IT companies in the US employ 50 or more people

Users of I T (US)  Financial services industry - $70 billion  Communication services - $61.7 billion  Manufacturing - $56.9 billion  Wholesale- $50.1 billion  Business services - $51.2 billion  Retail- $18.7 billion  Real estate- $17.1 billion  Transportation- $16.8 billion

Types of I T Workplaces  Information technology department (eg, the IT department of a large organisation like Centrelink or Optus)  Information technology consulting organisation (eg, an IT consulting company like Anderson Consulting)  Information technology hardware/software supplier (eg, your local computer hardware/software retailer).

I T Departments  Most large organisations have information technology departments.  Most large organisations have information technology departments.  These are organisations whose main business is not information technology but could be something like manufacturing, education, finance, law or accounting.  The IT department provides technology solutions that support the main business of the organisation

Typical I T Department - Organisation Chart

Main Function of each Branch

IT Staff of a Small Computer Store

Common IT Job roles AreaRoles Software engineering Systems analyst, Analyst/programmer, Programmer IT supportHelp desk officer, Support technician, Technical writer/trainer Web servicesWeb designer, Web developer, Web administrator, Multimedia specialist (graphic designer, animator, games developer etc) NetworkingNetwork administrator, Network manager, Network engineer Systems development Systems architect, Systems designer, System administrator, Database administrator ManagementIT manager, Project manager, Team leader ConsultantsManagement consultant, Technical consultant SalesHardware/ software/ support sales

IT Support Roles  Help Desk Support  Network Support  Web/Software Support

Help Desk Support Every day, a typical Help desk:  accepts problem calls from users and registers each call on a help desk database  solves the problem for the user over the phone if possible. The assistance is usually limited to simple problem solving related to the operating system, software and basic peripheral devices  If the problem cannot be solved over the phone, the help desk mobilises the relevant IT staff member, usually by or in the database, to assist the user.

Network Support Every day, network support staff:  assist users in rectifying network-related problems such as security access, Internet access, network failure, printer failure  assist the network administrator in managing user accounts, installing software on the network, backing up and retrieving files and maintaining network security  maintain the help desk database by recording problem resolution on problem calls attended to

Software Support Every day, software support staff:  monitor the state of custom software systems  troubleshoot when the software fails to work properly Apart from the above routine tasks there are tasks such as:  keeping records of hardware and software purchased, including the purchase of consumable items  ensuring equipment is well maintained and serviced where required

Key Players Key players in the IT sector are those that have influence and interest in the direction and use of Information and Communications Technology. These include bodies such as:  vendors of IT products and services  IT consultancy organisations  government departments  professional bodies  research organisations and publishers.

Vendors A vendor is a company that makes or sells goods and or services.  In IT they range from a small one-person company producing software, to very large companies like Cisco, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Hewlett- Packard, IBM, Microsoft, Novell Pty Ltd, Oracle, Siemens and Sun Microsystems.  These companies produce a wide range of software, equipment and services.  Apart from providing products the vendor often installs and supports their products according to a specified agreement.

IT Consultancy Organisations  Send their own IT staff to work in other organisations on a temporary basis.  Consultants work on IT projects as project managers, systems architects, analyst/programmers, business analysts.  They can also provide help desk and network maintenance services.  Some examples of large IT organisations are Anderson Consulting, DMR, Price Waterhouse Coopers, IBM and GSA.

Consulting Company Project Team

Government  Government departments at both federal and state level have an interest in the IT industry.  They determine IT policy and are involved in industry promotion.  There have been some recent changes to the structure of the departments relating to IT.

Federal Departments Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts The Office for the Information Economy Now falls within the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Its functions relate to broad policy, research and programs. Department of Finance and Administration The Australian Government Information Management Office Falls within the Department of Finance and Administration. Its functions include the promotion and coordination of the use of new information and communications technology to deliver government policies, information, programs and services.

State Departments (NSW) The NSW Government Chief Information Office (GCIO) Formerly the Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT). The Department of Commerce through the GCIO, plays a leadership role in developing and deploying government wide strategies for the management of ICT within and between government, industry and the community. It is the NSW Government's lead agency for ICT issues and electronic services.

Professional Bodies  Bring together people who work in a particular industry to exchange ideas and promote their industry.  Membership of a professional organisation indicates a certain level of accomplishment in that area.

Key Professional Bodies for IT Australian Computer Society The ACS is the recognised association for ICT professionals, attracting a large and active membership from all levels of the industry. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the public voice of the ICT profession and the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the industry. Australian Information Industry Association The AIIA represents over 420 member companies with combined annual revenues of more than $40 billion, employ over 100,000 Australians and have exports of over $2 billion. IEEE Computer Society With nearly 100,000 members, the IEEE Computer Society is the world's leading organisation of computer professionals. Internet Industry Association of Australia The IIA is Australia's national Internet industry organisation. Members include telecommunications carriers, web developers, e-commerce traders, hardware vendors, banks, insurance underwriters, technology law firms, ISPs, educational institutions, research analysts, and those providing professional and technical support services. Australian Institute of Project Management The AIPM is the peak body for project management in Australia. Formed in 1976, the AIPM has been instrumental in progressing the profession of project management over the past 25 years.

Publications  The Internet provides the best and most up-to- date resource through: –vendor and support sites –professional organisations –news portals –special interest groups, etc.  Subscriptions to both online and paper-based publications. These range from the user level through to the highly technical. Most of the paper-based publications are supported by a website.  Major newspapers have sections devoted to information technology.

Publications PC Authorityhttp:// Australian PC Userhttp:// Computer Choicehttp:// Macworldhttp:// Atomichttp:// Australian Personal Computerhttp:// Wiredhttp:// The Australianhttp://australianit/news.com.au Sydney Morning Heraldhttp://

IT Qualifications  VET (Vocational Education and Training) Certificates 1 to 4, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.  Vendor qualifications, e.g. Microsoft certification  Professional qualifications, e.g. Australian Computer Society membership  University degree courses, undergraduate to PhD

Researching IT careers There are a number of useful sites on the Internet, both for finding IT job vacancies and for guidance on careers in IT.  The ITSkills Hub portal ( has six main areas including Moving into IT and Working in IT. There are a number of interactive case studies of people who work in IT. There are many websites that help you search for career information, for example:  The Department of Education Science and Training has a job guide website, that provides career guidance. Job vacancies for all areas including IT can be found at the widely used sites of:  Seek at  Mycareer at among others.