Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry Winkle
* IT is such a weasel term in my mind.
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Superbly describes the industry problem. When I was learning this stuff, programming languages were never college courses. You were expected to learn that on your own. Course descriptions from Seattle Pacific are apparently still based in that concept. But courses for many computer students today are:
•CIS 100 Introduction to PC's
•CIS 101 Introduction to Spreadsheets
•CIS 102 Intro to Data Base Management
•CIS 103 Intro to Word Processing
•CIS 104 Intro to Desktop Publishing
•CIS 105 Introduction to Windows
•CIS 106 Introduction to the INTERNET
•CIS 108 Introduction to Web Page Design
•CIS 110 Computer Info Sys for Management
•CIS 111 Computer Science I: Programming/Concept
•CIS 113 PC Maintenance and Support
•CIS 114 Web Design and Development
•CIS 117 Computer Aided Drafting I
•CIS 120 Teaching With Technology
•CIS 122 Visual Basic
•CIS 126 Computer Architecture and Organization
•CIS 136 C#
•CIS 140 Client-Side Web Development
•CIS 141 Introduction to Linux
•CIS 142 Linux Administration
•CIS 148 Computer Graphics I
•CIS 151 Systems Analysis and Design
•CIS 155 PC Applications on Networks
•CIS 156 Netware Administration and Support
•CIS 158 Windows Server Administration and Support
•CIS 170 Networking Fundamentals (Cisco Exploration Semester 1)
•CIS 173 Customer Service Skills-Help Desk Professional
None of those would have been acceptable as college courses. Unfortunately another college course is remedial mathematics. To teach basic math that should have been learned in high school.
I cite this course guide because a girl said she was taking Word. They did not teach 'fields' or 'forms' or any other 'programming' features in Word. How is that a computer programming course?
What does an IT boss do when some computer science degrees are devoid of science? A fundamental fact from management. The boss must know how work gets done at least three levels below him. Many do not. The TV show "Undercover Boss" demonstrates that reality (and makes some people angry for the same reason).
How many times has someone said, "But he is an IT guy. He knows computers! He recommends a surge protector." My experience: most IT guys have no idea how electricity works. Most protectors do not even claim to do that protection. But he is an IT guy. He recommended it. Therefore it must be true!
If the boss has no grasp of the technology, then how would he know an educated IT guy from another who is only a tech?
Weasels. BTW, weasels also run many engineering departments. A high number of weasels would explain why so many better educated people cannot find jobs. For example, how many of UT's potential bosses really knew anything about IT?
An innovation that did not happen is not missed by a weasel. An innovation that is impossible with less qualified employees never appears as a loss on any spread sheet. Who is the reason for more job losses four and more years later? An innovation that does happen means even more jobs are lost four plus years later. Innovation and the resulting new jobs cannot happen when weasels are management. Meaning even more educated people have less job opportunities four plus years later.
Weasels are better when road kill. They make an innovative smell. How does one separate a potential educated boss from a potential weasel?