How Cloud Computing Affects Competitiveness

What’s the Latest Development?

Thanks to cloud computing technology, Google is rumored to be aiming at a server to I.T. administrator ratio of 10,000 to one. That’s a big change from the days when 25 servers to one technician was the norm, says I.T. consultant Scott Bils. As a result, companies must reconsider what qualities they want from an I.T. administrator and adjust their hiring strategy accordingly. And with the costs of I.T. fluctuating again, though this time down instead of up, Bils says the C.E.O. should keep a chief technology officer close by. 

What’s the Big Idea?

It was in the early ’90s that the chief technology officer (C.I.O.) became recognized as an important position in many companies. In those days, the C.I.O. was kept close to the C.E.O. because purchasing the very costly technology of the day needed approval from the highest level. Bils says a good C.E.O. would still be wise to keep a C.I.O. near, but for different reasons. “Tomorrow’s winning C.I.O. will bring an M.B.A.’s understanding of finance, marketing, operations, H.R. and the other functions,” says Bils.