IT career opportunities
Witman HungExecutive Vice President and
Co-founderNext Horizon Company Ltd.
• BA(Hons) MBA MA FHKIoD FFA FiProA FHKCS MBCS MCMI
• Chartered IT Professional
• Vice President of Hong Kong Internet Professionals Association
• Executive Vice President and Co-founder, Next Horizon Co. Ltd.• 20 years experience in IT• Director – Corporate Markets, Jardine OneSolution• Regional VP North Asia and Country Manager Hong Kong, Atos
Origin (Largest European IT Services Firm)• Regional Manager, Systems Integration, AT&T Asia Pacific
• MIS Consultant - KPMG
Network Hardware
Software Security
In-house Vendor
Service Provider
Consultant MNC
Local Employer
Government
Start your own
business
Specialization
Job Nature Employer
Why are you in IT?
If you cannot do what you like, try to like what you do.
Network Hardware
Software Security
In-house Vendor
Service Provider
Consultant MNC
Local Employer
Government
Start your own
business
Specialization
Job Nature Employer
What are my options?
The IT Trend
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Ubiquitous Information AccessUbiquitous Information Access
Era I: Automation, Cost Control and Efficiency
Era II: Productivity and End-User Empowerment
Era III: Value Creation and Business Effectiveness
Internet/Network ComputingInternet/Network Computing
Mainframe/Midrange ComputingMainframe/Midrange Computing
Client/Server ComputingClient/Server Computing
IT’s IT’s Impact Impact
ononBusinessBusinessStructurStructur
ee
Low
High Era IV: IT Enabling New Business Models
InternallyInternallyFocusedFocused
ExternallyExternallyFocusedFocused
Source: Gartner Group
Era V: Web 2.0
Changing Role of IT
• IT skills has become necessary but not sufficient in any business.
• IT has become the 2nd language of Business
• Pure IT players will become like translators and copywriters
• End-user Computing +• Business Analyst
•何東爵士•怡和洋行 翻譯
~1880 •怡和火險公司經理
1882 (20 歲 )•華人首富 ~1930
Changes brought from IT
• The World is Flat– 7x24x365
• Some Jobs are Disappearing – Secretary, Reception etc
• Some New Jobs Appearing – Content Manager/Web Master etc
• Some Jobs are changing• Change in competitive landscape
– David and Goliath, which one is you– Winners Takes All
IT Needs Pyramid
Operation Support
Reporting Requirements
Decision Support
Value +Cost$ +
Vendor/Service Provider v.s. In-house
• Longer working hours• Higher pressure on
performance and quality
• Better exposure• Better pay• Broader future
opportunities• Better career path
• Better career security• Less Pressure• In-depth understanding
of a business and industry
• Can get into business if you can think like them
Multinationals v.s. Local
• Better career path• Better exposure• Better pay
• Better career security
• Same culture• Flexibility
• Cultural conflicts• Career insecurity
• Less IT spending• Limited growth
What Employers look for
•Ability
•Business Sense
•Communication skills
•Integrity
•Initiation
•Intelligence
• What value do you get? (Value)
The Value3
• What value can you bring to the Boss ? (Value2)
• What value can you bring to their customers ? (Value3)
• WIIIFM (What Is In It For Me)?• WIIIFM (What Is In It For Me)?
• For any business, the creation of additional value can only be achieved through1. Additional Revenue2. Decreased Cost
• All other value (customer satisfaction, image, efficiency, effectiveness, accuracy etc.) can be translated into the above 2.
• And this is the only thing business people care! – Otherwise SO WHAT!
What Value – The So What Test?
• Speak the Business Language
• Improve Communication Skills
• Understand Challenge & Opportunities in your industry
• Become the Industry Experts
Advance to the Next Level
Strategist
•Understand strategic value of IT and its impact to business
Coach
•Coach team and oneself
•Skill up / train up
•Resource planning
•Monitor progress
Advocate
•Explain the value of IT
•Advocate change
Listener
•Listen to business
•Seek first to understand then to be understood
Team Player
•Work with other teams in new organisation
Follower
•Follow business direction
•Alignment
Leader
•Lead change through the use of technology
•Understand trends and new development
Bridge
•Bridge between business and technology
The New IT Professional
Think Business
Think China
Think Global
