The Status of Enterprise Applications and Infrastructure

by Robert D. Austin

Most IT managers would not place themselves in the same occupational category as race car drivers. But after the IT roller-coaster ride of the past few years, some managers may be able to empathize with the drivers at the ill-fated Firehawk 600 who were disoriented by the speed at which they were moving. The absurd ups and downs of the technology market, IT spending, and the general level of enthusiasm for IT in business show no apparent rational patterns. Consequently, it is a difficult time to make sense about where we are and where we are going. And yet that is precisely what we all need to do. At some point, the sensational blips fade into the background, and the important changes emerge into clarity. Trying to get this to happen sooner rather than later is a bit like trying to shake the dizziness left over from that hairpin turn. But no one is going to postpone our race, so we better get on with it.