Unlike tech bust, this recession is hurting IT pros in all fields
Information Technology professionals faced a tough time earlier this decade when the dot-com bubble burst. Smaller technology companies were folding quickly and global tech corporations laid off workers in unending waves.
Now, IT faces another crisis due to this latest recession. This time, the hardships race across all industries, not just the tech companies.
Oakbrook Terrace-based Geneca, a software developer, released a survey of IT professionals with 92 percent saying their company is experiencing a negative impact from the economy with reduced resources, budget cuts and shifting project priorities. This time, however, these IT professionals are in various industries, including health care, academicresearch, retail, manufacturing and government.
"During the tech bust, technology was leading. Today, companies that were solid are all feeling the pain," said Geneca Managing Director Bob Zimmerman of Grayslake.
The survey, called "Doing More With Less," was recently issued and will be updated monthly as Geneca continues to talk with chief information officers and other tech professionals across all fields.
"Most feel the impact of the economy on their budgets, which will remain flat or at least 30 percent down," said Geneca CEO Mark Hattas of Naperville. "They're really challenged."
About half of the respondents expressed difficulty in meeting business needs because of work force reductions, hiring freezes, purchase restrictions, frequent changes in direction and shelved projects. These are all happening at the same time as workloads and expectations are increasing, the survey said.
The survey marked some growing trends, including even more resource restrictions, a rapidly changing marketplace, frequent changes in direction that result in more disconnects between IT and the business, and more expectations to create a competitive advantage.
"There's no more tolerance for runaway projects," Hattas said.
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