IT management

Time-management skills for most people are learned along the way, a necessary part of getting the job done. However, like most things, the more you invest in it, the greater the reward.

The IT job market is either hot or lackluster, but mostly it is difficult for anyone who is seeking a job or hiring.

Looking back on the last twelve months, most outsourcing analysts agree that the level of IT services deals sealed has held relatively steady, year-over-year. The total value of outsourcing contracts signed in 2010 was $62.4 billion, according to outsourcing consultancy TPI, a figure that's pretty consistent with their last five years of total contract value data. The number of IT services deals inked in 2010 grew by six percent, according to outsourcing consultancy Everest, noting that eight of them were so-called mega-deals of $1 billion or more. About half of IT service providers polled by outsourcing consultancy EquaTerra reported growth in their business pipeline, despite expectations for a much stronger year-end close. Deal flow was uneven in the fourth quarter, EquaTerra reported, and subject to delays.

IT executives at Chevron and TD Bank are testing whether tablets like Apple's iPad and the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook can be used to improve workflow processes int their companies.

Mistakes happen. Situations change. Yet very few outsourcing customers regularly check their outsourcing invoices against their original contracts on a regular basis. And that means they may be leaving thousands--or millions--on the table, says outsourcing consultants Adam Strichman and Mark Ruckman.

Companies building private clouds mainly to keep developers from going to public clouds are too focused on the physical aspects of cloud -- and missing the point about the operational requirements, says Forrester Research's James Staten. Here, he shares five pieces of advice for private cloud success.

The current challenges in today's job market didn't stop Phillip Mahan from bouncing back quickly after a setback. Mahan was laid off from his position as manager of information security and risk management at Unisource Worldwide in February. By April he was working again as the business information security officer with ING. There is a reason why he wasn't on the job hunt for very long: He is fanatical about his resume and his career.

Collaboration is all the rage among corporate executives these days, which means IT is busy providing systems that turn that vague concept into a real business benefit. But what happens when it comes time for techies themselves to collaborate?

As Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft demonstrate, there is no better competitive advantage than a talented workforce.

CIOs have finally emerged from the dark days of budget-slashing, cost-cutting and headcount-reducing. The metaphorical knives, axes and saws can all be put away.

Ask a Premier 100 IT Leader: Jinx Walton