October 7, 2002 (Computerworld) --
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The good news, according to Gartner Inc. prognosticators, is that technology is going to continue to help companies become more efficient. The bad news is that it could cost you your job. Gartner said it expects successful companies buoyed by a stronger economy and continued advances in technology to lay off millions of employees starting within the next two years. That was part of a top 10 list of IT predictions that the Stamford, Conn.-based consulting and market research firm released today at its Symposium/ITxpo 2002 conference here. IT systems that further automate existing manual operations will "substantially lower the labor load of business," said Carl Claunch, director of research at Gartner. Claunch added that IT productivity is likely to outpace corporate revenue growth on an average basis, providing an additional impetus for the downsizing of many workforces. The job-cutting forecast was No. 4 on Gartner's top 10 list. The other predictions that Claunch made on behalf of the firm were: 1. Adding bandwidth will become more cost-effective than buying new computers. Optical bandwidth capabilities are increasing by 100% per year, while computing capacity is rising by just 60% annually, Claunch said. This will ultimately result in fewer, more centralized data centers and more sharing of computing facilities between companies under an application service provider model, he said. In addition, a growing range of distributed applications will emerge that make use of grid computing, such as sophisticated systems that support pharmaceutical drug development. 2. Most major new systems will be interenterprise or cross-enterprise systems. Technology that lets companies tie together their supply chain systems and other applications will take off, Claunch said. However, that will create what he described as a "pit of snakes." For example, IT managers will have to figure out how to cost-justify investments in such systems. 3. Despite the complexities, interenterprise systems will provide a macroeconomic boost to companies. Many users will be able to leverage cross-departmental and cross-company systems to react more quickly to changing business conditions, according to Claunch. "This will have a clear and recognized effect on productivity,", he said. 5. The consolidation of vendors will continue in many segments of the IT market. Business pressures and constrained IT spending will continue to hamper service providers, network operators and vendors of middleware and systems and network management tools. Half of today's software vendors will be gone by 2004, Claunch said. 6. Moore's Law will hold true through this decade. Claunch said continued technological advancements in areas such as nanotube transistors and storage in nanometer holes will make it possible for the following leaps in computing power within six years:
"This pilot fish works at a telco that provides DSL hardware access to ISPs. Total number of users: in the..."
Read more...
"User stops at the desk of this pilot fish and informs him that the mouse and keyboard on the user's..."
Read more... Read more Management posts or See all Blogs
If you're like our 7,000 survey respondents, your paycheck this year has been flattened and your bonus obliterated. We offer 12 ways to plump up your paycheck.
By helping Intel with loosened 'Vista Capable' requirements, Microsoft 'severely damaged' its credibility, said an HP exec in a newly unsealed Feb. 2006 e-mail.
Turning information into a Competitive Advantage View this webcast now! Go to the webcast
SaaS Solutions for Remote Systems Management
Download this Technology Briefing, free, compliments of Dell. (Source: Dell) The benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) are extending their reach into systems management. So in addition to the more obvious cost control and rapid application deployment benefits, SaaS can be instrumental in filling needs for compliance, security and business continuity - all the while reducing costly infrastructure. Learn more in this brand new Technology Briefing. Download this executive briefing
The Importance of Application Management
Get this white paper now! (Source: Dell) Efficient desktop application management is essential in normal day-to-day operations of any company. Whether you are introducing a new application or implementing an OS migration, the goal is the same: minimize disruptions and ensure user productivity throughout the process. Download this white paper
White Papers
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services.
With an estimated 40% of the world's information now residing behind a firewall, employee productivity is driven by the ability to quickly find key information no matter where it's stored across your organization. At Google, we believe in a simple premise: all of the information you need to be productive at work should be available through one search box, giving users real-time access to content across the enterprise and delivering a single, integrated, secure set of search results.
Moving to Windows Vista: The Promise, The Reality
IDG survey says...that while migration to Windows Vista looms inevitable, the road is fraught with challenges from application compatibility to integration issues to upgrade costs. Fortunately one company is stepping up with solutions and services to help manage Vista in a mixed environment and to automate key aspects of that management chore. View this webcast. See more Webcasts
See your link here
Subscribe to
Computerworld 
or
Other Management Stories
Turning information into a Competitive Advantage
Download this Technology Briefing, free, compliments of Dell. 
Get this white paper now!
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services.
The Enterprise Search Zone
IDG survey says...that while migration to Windows Vista looms inevitable, the road is fraught with challenges from application compatibility to integration issues to upgrade costs. Fortunately one company is stepping up with solutions and services to help manage Vista in a mixed environment and to automate key aspects of that management chore. 
Computerworld