To compare a "Core" technologist to that of a general technologist will always garner the contempt between various IT fields. My background is in support for example. I love technology and make every attempt to learn about the technology behind the products I have supported. Now, further on in my career as an Incident, Problem and Crisis Manager, I have to know about all areas of the products and services that IT delivers to the Business, including the likes of Storage, Database, Applications and Networking/Voice. I am not a specialist any any of these core technologies, but I am a GEEK for driving to understand them and how they work together to enhance our deliveries to the business.
Having said that, it is also one of many roles which requires soft-skills in dealing with core technologists, leadership on both the IT and Business side, I would probably not be employed if I didn't learn to interact and maneuver around the politics and personalities at all levels, in getting anything done in IT. So to say there is a back-lash or that I am a weenie for possessing soft-skills is somewhat an oversight as to how Technology needs to function in the modern business environment regardless of industry. In short; all roles in Technology play their part in delivering on a business strategy. If we are failing in anything it is not ensuring that technologists "core" or otherwise do not think of themselves as better than any other technologist and that each requires different skills to serve a higher purpose. The cog in the machine if you will. Maybe then we can begin to leverage these different skill-sets instead of further instigating a "who's better than who" battle in IT. This is no longer the 1980's. To compare a "Core" technologist to that of a general technologist will always garner the contempt between various IT fields. My background is in support for example. I love technology and make every attempt to learn about the technology behind the products I have supported. Now, further on in my career as an Incident, Problem and Crisis Manager, I have to know about all areas of the products and services that IT delivers to the Business, including the likes of Storage, Database, Applications and Networking/Voice. I am not a specialist any any of these core technologies, but I am a GEEK for driving to understand them and how they work together to enhance our deliveries to the business. Having said that, it is also one of many roles which requires soft-skills in dealing with core technologists, leadership on both the IT and Business side, I would probably not be employed if I didn't learn to interact and maneuver around the politics and personalities at all levels, in getting anything done in IT. So to say there is a back-lash or that I am a weenie for possessing soft-skills is somewhat an oversight as to how Technology needs to function in the modern business environment regardless of industry. In short; all roles in Technology play their part in delivering on a business strategy. If we are failing in anything it is not ensuring that technologists "core" or otherwise do not think of themselves as better than any other technologist and that each requires different skills to serve a higher purpose. The cog in the machine if you will. Maybe then we can begin to leverage these different skill-sets instead of further instigating a "who's better than who" battle in IT. This is no longer the 1980's.
