the ever-about -to-disappear IT department
A similar prediction was made back in the late 60s, early 70s when the first time-sharing systems (DEC, IBM, GE, Honeywell etc) began to appear. The theory was giant utilities like the hydro would appear and solve everyone's problems.They didn't, the software wasn't reliable and the communications infrastructure was too primitive. By the late 70s when so-called computer utilities were starting to mature a bit the need generated due to high hardware, infrastructure, operation costs disappeared with the arrival of the PC,Internet and cheap, cheap, cheap, hardware plus reasonably user friendly and reliable software.
From the interview I would suggest the author is pandering to the fears of CEO's & similar creatures who only know that IT seems to cost a lot of money and in some cases cause monument public relations problems. Rather than telling these people that the problem (which it really isn't) will all go away they should be told how much a well run progressive IT section adds to a business.
