Maybe it's time to decentralize IT
I've observed that IT groups often have a "circle the wagons" attitude towards the rest of their enterprise. As seen in many of the comments on this article and others, there is a wariness and even distrust between IT and its customers. Perhaps it is time to decentralize IT. Stop trying to enforce monolithic standards and control over tools and processes, and start cooperating with the customer; maybe even "living" in the customer's department. In other words, ditch the "us" vs "them" attitudes. It's not that individual developers should lower their standards, but they should apply them with discretion.
If IT departments managed law enforcement, they would start by ticketing ALL traffic infractions, then, when that proved too unpopular and costly, they would outlaw cars, bikes and pedestrians and force everyone onto buses.
