IT staff shiftless crooks who can't get dates, say IT staff

A survey carried out by NOP for Microsoft UK and PC Magazine (lovely couple) comes to the strangely unsurprising conclusion that senior management and IT professionals don't understand one another. Or, as Microsoft puts it, that only 30 per cent of senior management feel that IT staff communicated very clearly how they can meet business needs through technology. But the survey's results as regards what management think of IT staff, and what they think of themselves, are rather more shocking - sad bunch, really.

The baleful influence of the BOFH is clearly spreading. Only 35 per cent of IT staff though they were supportive, and they're clearly not very good at hiding their malign intentions from the bosses, because only 38 per cent of senior management think they are. The positions are reversed, but the score remains painfully low, when it comes to dedication. In IT, 38 per cent think they're dedicated, while 32 per cent of management think they are.

And it gets worse. Six per cent of IT staff think they're honest, and only eight per cent of senior management - goodness knows how this bunch of crooks got security clearance in the first place.

Interpersonal skills? Fraid not. Four per cent of IT staff think they're sensitive, five per cent of management. Up a little but on fun to work with, but the 15 per cent of IT staff who think they are raise hollow laughter from the 96 per cent of management who know they're not.

Paints a hellish picture of the sewer of hatred, deceit and petty villainy that's UK PLC, doesn't it? But bizarrely, the techies remain optimistic. Large numbers of them think they'll be more respected in five years time and (gissa job) more than half think UK PLC won't move forward until more of them have board-level jobs. Only 38 per cent of senior management think this, however - maybe they're worried about the directors dining room silverware. The serious point here is that IT staff think it's difficult to make a case for new technology because management don't know enough, whereas management thinks they try to justify investment on technological grounds, rather than making a business case for it.

But they're in virtual unison on one thing; 90 per cent of IT staff, and 86 per cent of management, don't know whether IT investment in their business is a business cost or a business asset. We haven't a clue either. ®