Career Focus: Information Technology
Nurudeen Akindele
Nurudeen is a freelance writer, ghostwriter, technopreneur and social commentator. He writes on a wide range of issues such as football, technology and foreign policy and can be reached @ nurudeen_akindele@yahoo.com
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A lot of people erroneously associate information technology with disciplines like mass communication and fields that have to do with multimedia and communications. Even though modern communication is actually powered by information technologies such as mobile phones, websites, social media applications and a number of tools that support communications. Information technology devices are major component of communication, but as a field of endeavor, they are two different fields entirely.
In general language, information technology abbreviated as IT refers to almost every computing activity. This also encompasses both people and technologies involved in such activity. It is a broad term that covers both software and hardware components, and also information communication technologies such as telephones, mobile phones, fax, and so much more.
As a field of study, in order have a proper understanding of information technology, there is a need to discuss computing and computers extensively, how they have evolved over the years, and the various disciplines that have emerged from them. Computing or computer sciences essentially deal with problem solving and developing technologies that can solve problems which are referred to as computers. Almost every modern day tool or electronic device has a computer in it, ranging from the watches we wear to computers embedded in cars, doors, and cameras.
Historically computer science as a discipline has its origin in applied mathematics and electrical engineering. Early computers were humans who could perform complex mathematical functions before the so called “human computers” were replaced by electronic machines we now simply refer to as computers. As modern electronic computers became common place with various designs and presence in different technologies, the need for research and researchers in the field also grew rapidly. Hence computer science became an academic discipline.
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The application of computing became diverse and became applicable in so many areas of human endeavor such as business, communications, health, management, governance etc. The need for people with an understanding of these industries and the requisite computing expertise to solve various problems in these industries became apparent. Other disciplines also developed from computer science such as information technology, information systems, and health information systems.
Most of these disciplines were dedicated to performing specific functions or solving specific industrial problems using computers especially in a modern day context. “Information technology “was one of such disciplines and as an academic discipline prepares students to be able to apply computing principles and technologies to meet challenges facing different organizations such as businesses and governments.
Technologies are called information technologies or computing technologies because they cannot operate without a certain amount of data or information. Computers are useless without the humans that program them. In simple terms without instructions in form of data or information they won’t work. A degree in information technology prepares students to identify, adopt, and manage the technologies required by an organization to meet its overall objectives.
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Although graduates of IT programs can also perform in a number of roles meant for computer science graduates, and vice versa. Many areas in the field require no university degree or whatsoever. Some major career opportunities in the IT industry include: cloud computing, database administration, web design and development, software engineering, network administration, mobile application development, information technology consulting, information technology management, computer security, and sales.
Many of these areas are also offered as separate undergraduate degree programs while others are offered as graduate programs in different institutions across the world. Such as degree programs in Computer security, information technology management, and software engineering.
As mentioned earlier getting into some of these fields require no formal education or university degree. In fact majority of software engineers or programmers are self taught and only a handful actually had degrees related to IT. The same can also be said for web developers and mobile application developers.
Nearly every kind of organization adopts some form of information technology or the other. Whether as a peripheral component of its operations, and sometimes as the backbone of its activities. Business organizations that fail to develop its IT potentials may lose its competitive edge or is completely out of business.
Even governments and policy makers around the world are beginning to change their perception towards IT. They are now gradually adopting IT as a major driver of economic growth especially in developing countries. The IT industry is fast becoming a huge contributor to the GDP of these nations. With increased internet penetration and investments in IT education backed by sound economic policies. IT can be used to empower a tremendous amount of their unemployed population.
The demand for IT professionals looks to have doubled. As most organizations are trying to leverage on the benefits offered by the current interconnected digital economy. The future is shifting towards IT and professionals in the IT industry are in constant demand.
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