The Next Leap in Productivity: What Top Managers Really Need to Know about Information Technology

2.2. Managing IT versus Understanding IT

The reversion of IT to its old status as a dark art presents a serious problem. Few people nowadays question the critical importance of IT or doubt its role as an engine of business growth and long-term profitability. But here's the catch: Most executives say they understand IT. In truth, however, very few executives really understand how IT works.

Okay, we can all live with that. What we cannot all live with is this: Very few executives really understand how IT should be managed. That is why I wrote this book. I want to launch a serious conversation about how IT should be managed in a world in which IT plays a central role.

From our point of view, IT has become a runaway train. It is not too late to avert a wreck, but the executives and managers making the decisions are going to have to start issuing better instructions to the geeks driving the train.