Although more than 50% of companies say that business cases are required for their information-technology investments, they follow such policies less than half of the time, according to a survey by consultancy Robbins-Gioia. Two-thirds of companies without the requirement write business cases regardless, but grass-roots efforts may not be enough. Whether or not it is followed consistently, companies that have a policy deliver their technology projects on time and within budget 40% more often than those that don’t, says Carina Veksler, a senior market intelligence manager at Robbins-Gioia.
Security: Everyone Else’s Problem
Two-thirds of U.S. workers view themselves as active participants in the effort to keep computers and networks secure, according to a survey conducted by Brainbench Inc. and the Information Technology Association of America. Unfortunately, only 35% of their colleagues agree with them. The disparity in results indicates that most people seem to view security as someone else’s problem, says Brainbench spokesperson Eileen Townsend, an attitude that prevails overseas as well.
Patience Pays Off
The average hourly wage of a U.S. technology worker grew to $26.43 in Q2, a 1.5% increase over the previous quarter, says Jim Lanzalotto, a vice president at staffing firm Yoh Company. The Yoh Index, which follows technology workers in the aviation, scientific, engineering, information technology and telecom fields, also saw the first increase in information-technology wages in two years.
Networks at Risk
At least one out of every 25 employees installs napster-esque software in the office, according to a study by assetmetrix research Labs. Such programs expose corporate networks to the more than 70 viruses masquerading as swappable games or applications. As if being sued by the Recording industry Association of America isn’t enough.
Not So Costly, Sarbanes-Oxley?
Only 41% of executives at large multinational companies believe that complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley auditing act will require a substantial investment in technology. By contrast, nearly three-quarters see documentation and legal fees as at least somewhat costly, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
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